Luke 6:17-26 (NRSV)
Read Luke 6:17-26 on biblegateway.com
Verse 17He 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, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. Verse 18They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. Verse 19And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Verse 20Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Verse 21"Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Verse 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. Verse 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. Verse 24"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Verse 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. Verse 26"Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
Devotion
Jesus contrasts the hearts of the poor and the hearts of the rich. Blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the persecuted on account of Christ. Cursed are the popular, the rich and the satisfied that need only themselves.
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and probably broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable…The only place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is hell” (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, fill me with your Holy Spirit so I may, with courage, love another human being this day through Christ Jesus. Amen.