Sunday Gospel Reflection
Do good to those who hate you, pray for those who abuse you

Introduction

O Brother (or Sister), Who Art Thou?
When was your last act of charity? When was the last time you did some good for someone else?

In 2000, Hollywood's Coen brothers produced another of their handcrafted movies. "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" is a hilarious story of three prisoners who escape the chain gang to seek a fortune. Based upon Homer's "Odyssey" the movie lightly touches upon the more serious themes of divine providence and personal moral change. The story turns on the sought goal: personal gain or the good of others. Personal gain enchains the spirit, while the good of others washes one clean of the past. (A hint for those who wish to see the movie: watch for the many baptismal references.)

In Luke's four beatitudes and woes, Jesus spoke to the same goals with a simple, but implied question. O Brother (or Sister), who art thou: poor or rich?

First Reading
Jeremiah 17:5-8

5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD .
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD , whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 15:12,16,17,18,19,20

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
...
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Gospel Reading
Luke 6:17, 20-26

17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 "Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man!
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
24 "But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 "Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. "Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 "Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Bible Study/Meditation

During the next several weeks the Gospel Readings will cover Jesus' teaching which we commonly refer to as the Beatitudes. Someone has cleverly renamed this passage the "Be-attitudes," because they accurately portray the way Christians ought to be in their attitudes and behavior.

It is interesting to note that the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the persecuted are those who warrant Jesus' compassion and his blessing. The wealthy, the full, the happy, and the popular also warrant Jesus' compassion but it appears in the form of a woeful warning. What are we to conclude from this passage? Surely it does not suggest that it is preferable for people to be poor, hungry, sorrowful and persecuted, does it? Or that being wealthy, having a full stomach, being happy, or popular is inherently evil and to be avoided, does it? Perhaps he is pointing out that God is acutely aware and consciously concerned about the physical, emotional, social and economic inequities mankind heaps upon people.

We would be remiss if we did not also pay attention to what Jesus did not say. His remedy did not speak of the economic redistribution of wealth, nor of social or political revolution and revenge. His remedy, was to bless the unfortunate; "he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, 'Blessed... .'" Jesus undoubtedly knew that over time the nature of man would make moot the leveling of society by economic redistribution etc., and humanity would simply supplant it with another system of equal or greater evils. Jesus' remedy was to create a society of the compassionate within the society of the indifferent. He is looking to his disciples to bless the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the persecuted by sharing their wealth, their material possessions, their happiness, and their friendship. This was Jesus' remedy for alleviating suffering. As the song reminds us, "he has no body but ours."

The physical, emotional, economic and social welfare of the unfortunate is of utmost importance to Jesus, and should be to us. The hope that Jesus provides to sustain them in their need is the reality and presence of the Kingdom of God, and a sure future in heaven, as seen in and through those who are his body. That is why our (his disciples) participation in relieving suffering is so essential. We are the living icons and visual aids of this heavenly reality. Consequently, we too must hold out not only the temporary hope of overcoming societal ills, but also hold out the transformational reality, and the open invitation to participate in life eternal through faith in Jesus. For like Jeremiah we do not want the poor, hungry, sorrowful, and persecuted to trust in the flesh of man, but rather to trust in the Lord.

Reflections:

* Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that move(s)/touche(s) you and what inner message of the heart is the Spirit whispering to you?

. In Luke's sense, the "poor" have a sense of solidarity, for they focus on the good of others. The "rich" in Luke's eyes, focus only on the self and the consequences of actions on the self (while ignoring others).
  ----How have you been involved in "social justice" activities? How have they blessed you?

. Who art thou: poor or rich? We can look at the difference another way. Love makes us economically poor but enriches our lives; ambition makes us economically secure but leaves us selfish and shallow. Our lives reveal our priorities. May God give us the power to choose love over ambition, his Kingdom over present riches.

  ----Obviously, we Christians have different priorities in different at areas of life at different times. So the question of selfless (poor) vs. selfish (rich) is not so clear cut. However, a simple reflection over the past week can help you make changes for the next week. What can you do to become a little "poorer" and a little more "blessed," this coming week?

. In what way are you rich or poor today? Which of the promises means the most to you?

. With which woe do you most identify with at the moment?

.In light of your current situation which of these statements by Jesus would be most applicable to you?

.If you could be a light to people in one of these eight categories, which would it be, and how would you like to affect them?

Prayer

Lord, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting happiness and peace. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will.