St.Luke, this morning gives us an alternative version of the Beatitudes, somewhat different to the familiar phrases we know from Matthew Chapter 5. For a start they are shorter:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 ‘Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude you, revile you,
and defame you on account of the Son of Man.”
Luke 6:20a-22
and although they cover the same sentiments; and they are followed by warnings to those who are complacent or arrogant:
“24 But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
25 ‘Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 ‘Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.”
Luke’s record is more pithy and it certainly doesn’t pull any punches. Luke shows Jesus clearly siding with the poor and outcasts of society and having no truck with those who have life all too easy and care not for their neighbours.
Jesus is telling his followers that if they trust in God then God will not forget them and will help them in their time of need. In doing so Jesus echoes Jeremiah’s words and both are echoed by St.Paul. What we have to learn how to do is to trust in God, through thick and thin and to give thanks to God in both times of plenty and famine.
Jesus warns those who are well off not to forget to thank God and to give him praise for the good things they have - for when the going is good we can all too often forget to be thankful for blessings received. We can end up thinking that good things are our right and it can makes us deaf and blind to the needs of others. We must always be on our guard not to take God for granted or to ignore our brothers and sisters.
In warning those for whom things go well Jesus is reminding them of the duty to care they have for those who are wanting. In doing so he is encouraging them to help the less fortunate, thus relieving need and saving the ‘rich’ from themselves. If the rich help the poor both are saved from the pitfalls in which they can find themselves. The poor are helped to better things and the rich reminded that everything comes from God and can be taken away if gratitude is forgotten.
Trust and gratitude would seem to be the watchwords of today’s readings. ‘Gratitude’ from all of God’s people for the things we receive in times of plenty and the times of need. Simply saying; ‘thank-you’ to God for everything at all times.
And, ‘Trust’ is a call to have faith in God that he will encourage others to help you when you are desperate by reminding them of their blessings and that they must share them. For in sharing we all receive more from God and there is always more than enough to go round. Remember the old saying that the more you give the more you get back. How true, it often is.
Blessed are those who help others and blessed are those who say; ‘Thank you’.