OUR LORD REJECTED BY HIS OWN

Today’s Gospel is St. Luke’s account of the teaching of the “Beatitudes”, by Our Lord. These are short phrases in which He declares the blessedness of those who suffer now, because they will receive a reward in compensation for their present difficulties. By contrast, He proclaims the “woe” of those who are prosperous or fortunate now, for

deprivation will come upon them.

     In this way Our Lord teaches us not to associate present good fortune with God’s blessings, nor to assume that poverty, hunger and sorrow are signs of God’s anger or curse upon those who suffer them. 

     Such had been the common assumption of people in Our Lord’s day.

     He now turns that idea upside down.         

                                                                                               ~   Fr. Paul Dobson