Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time – Luke 6:20-26

At times, reading the scriptures can be a little confusing and knock us off balance. If I’ve been living a good
Christian life it can be very confusing to me when I hear something like “woe to you who are rich …” or “woe
to you who are filled …” or especially “woe to you when all speak well of you …”. What can this mean? Have
I been kidding myself about living a life in fidelity with Christ? Are these woes going to befall me until I’m
poor, hungry, and everyone speaks evil of me all the time? Certainly we know that a Christian life has no
foundation in greed or gluttony but can’t there be an in-between?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples: “Blessed are you who are poor. Blessed are you who are hungry.
Blessed are you who are weeping. Blessed are you when people hate you, insult you, and denounce your
name as evil.” Now I ask myself: Do I am blessed when I experience poverty, hunger, or other trials? Do I
feel blessed if someone hates or dislikes me? Also ask yourself my dear brothers about these messages.

I doubt that any of us feel blessed when we have pain, sorrow, loss and confusion in our lives. It is more
likely we may feel cursed or betrayed. We may be sad, afraid, or angry with God. Yet Jesus tells us to rejoice
and to leap for joy on that day. He reassures us that we will have a great reward in heaven. However, this
assurance most likely will not ease the pain, the sorrow, or the suffering we may be experiencing.

Jesus then continues with the “woes.” He says: “Woe to the rich, you have received your consolation. Woe to
you whose bellies are filled, you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now; you will grieve and weep. Woe to
you when people speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the prophets in this way.”

It is easy to take our blessings for granted until the difficult times come and we begin to experience the woes
of life. Now take a moment and ask ourselves: Do you consider it a blessing when you are hungry for love, joy,
hope, companionship, spiritual nourishment? Or at these times do you feel abandoned by God or angry with
Jesus? During painful and difficult times, it is almost natural to lose sight of the many ways we also are
blessed. If we are struggling and in pain, our focus immediately shifts to the difficult or the frightening
aspects of life.

Yet, even when we experience “woes”, we are blessed. We may have parents, friends, siblings, our Church
community, a religious community, as well as other people who love and care for us. Hopefully, we have a
roof over our heads and enough food on the table. And even during our times of woe, God is right beside us.
However, we may not always feel God’s presence. And hopefully, during the woeful times, we have the family
and friends who love and care for us.

When we are struggling with the woes, it may be helpful to sit down and focus on the blessings we are
experiencing at this time. This may give us some perspective. We may realize that even though life may not
be what we would like it to be, we receive many blessings every single day. True, they may seem like small
blessings: a smile, a phone call from a friend, the beauty of the sunset or a hug from someone you love, but
they still are blessings.

When you are in the woes of life, look for beauty, laughter, or quiet, or ask God for a hug! Who knows: you
may be surprised what gift you may receive!
Today is the feast day of St. Luke the evangelist. St. Luke, the inspired author of the third Gospel. St.
Luke is the Patron of Artists; painters; physicians; sculptors and surgeons. As we studied about
St. Luke's Gospel is principally concerned with salvation and mercy; in it are preserved some of our
Lord's most moving parables, like those of the lost sheep and the prodigal son. It is also St. Luke
who tells us the greater part of what we know about our Lord's childhood.
Luke's Gospel is, above all, the Gospel of the Merciful Heart of Jesus. It emphasizes the fact that
Christ is the salvation of all men, especially of the repentant sinner and of the lowly. Legend says
that Luke painted the Blessed Virgin's portrait. It is certainly true that he painted the most beautiful
word-picture of Mary ever written.
As we heard the gospel it is suitable to all of us as disciples of Christ “Go make
disciples” Jesus wants us to realize that it is only when we are absolutely defenseless that we are
likely to depend on God. As such, in our work for the Lord, we need to confess our dependence
upon God for His leadership, His wisdom, His timing and not on our own capabilities.Today, we
just need to look deep into our hearts and see how close we have been to being vulnerable and
dependent on God for our work in His vineyard. As a community of believers do we consider
financial resource as a major consideration in pursuing a mission for the Lord? Do we try to
discourage other peoples’ noble aspirations for the Lord because such undertakings may separate
the resources that would otherwise be available for our own plans? When we feel that we are
lagging behind our work for the Lord, do we have the humility to cry to Him for help? Or are we so
proud that we cannot accept failure and with a mask hide behind the truth of our shortcomings and
failures? Do we depend on God’s own strength and power to make things happen or do we rely on
our own intellect, power and strength and our accumulated experience and knowledge when we
work in God’s vineyard?
Let us pray for the grace to depend on God’s grace in our ministry work. Let not our myopic attitude
and partiality cause God to proclaim upon our esteemed fellowship: “The harvest is abundant but
the laborers are few.” With complete faith, trust and obedience to His will, let us empower all
community members in their work for the Lord, freely allowing “the Master of the harvest to send
out laborers for his harvest.” Let not our biases for or against our ministry assignments be an
obstacle to our fruitfulness. Let us not be the devouring wolves that will drive away God’s
people-His lambs- but be the loving, caring, forgiving and understanding undershepherds!

When we fail in our work for the Lord because of our own sinfulness, He does not want us to turn
and run. He simply wants us to cry out to Him for help. He will turn our moment of failure into a
moment where we can feel His saving grace. Always be vulnerable to God and allow His will to
prevail.
Two aspects of prayer are presented in today’s scripture passages. The First Reading and the
Gospel describe the importance of persistence in prayer. The selection chosen from the
continued reading of St. Paul’s Letter to Timothy stresses the pre-eminent value of the Word of
GOD in our daily prayer life.
As the Israelites confront the Amalekites, two actions are going on. The first is the
activity of Joshua and his soldiers in the actual battle. The second is the attitude and posture of
prayer by Moses with the help of two attendants. From atop a hill, Moses takes the position of
lifting his hands up to the LORD, invoking GOD’s assistance for those who fight the GOoD fight
below him. As long as Moses keeps his hand raised in praise of GOD and intercession for the
troops, the Israelites have the upper hand. As Moses’ hands tire, he is assisted by Aaron and
Hur, who position themselves on either side of Moses, holding his hands in the prayerful
posture. In the end, the Israelites win the battle decisively. The Responsorial echoes the
thoughts that it is GOD Who is the true source of help and victory in the struggles of life. GOD
continues to protect and care for all those who call on the help of the LORD.
In the Second Reading, St. Paul encourages Timothy to continue to center his ministry on
the Word of GOD. The scriptures are the handbook and user’s manual which are necessary in
the living out of one’s life. Since, as Paul tells Timothy, all of GOD’s Word is inspired (GOD has
breathed the “Spirit into” it and breathes out the Spirit through the Word), then within the Holy
Writ can be found the instruction, the encouragement, the challenge, and the wherewithal to be
equipped with whatever is necessary to continue our journey of faith. The Word of GOD must
be the source of ministry, as the faithful disciples carries on the work of their Master-Teacher
with all patience and understanding.
The Gospel begins by saying that Jesus instructs His disciples in the necessity of praying
without tiring. Yes, prayer must be filled with hope, with the knowledge that GOD hears and
responds, but it also must be constant, non-stopped, even if one is tired. It is the persistence
in prayer that demonstrates our desire to have a continued relationship with our GOD.
As I reflect on the readings for today, I think about various aspects of prayer. Prayer is
the constant relationship that I have with the Lord Jesus and His Abba-Father in the unity of the
Holy Spirit. I cannot limit my prayer just to an hour or so on Sunday, or even to my daily
morning and night prayers, which are also important. Prayer has to be the attitude that I have
that reminds me of the loving relationship I have with my Lord Jesus. I must, as St. Paul says,
“pray constantly” (Ephesians 6:18). That doesn’t mean that I am continuously reciting rote
prayers, although that is better than not praying at all. It means that I am always to be aware
of my relationship with GOD and seek to develop and enhance that relationship by thinking more
and more about the Lord Jesus.
Tied into the concept of being “faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12) is the idea of the source
of prayer being based on GOD’s Word. I must not just occasionally pick up the Bible and read
it. Rather, I must devour the Word of GOD on a regular, daily basis. I must be formed and
equipped with what I find and study in the scriptures. My life must be a living testimony to
GOD’s Word. It is when I open the pages of GOD’s Word and apply it to my life that I become
equipped to do battle with the enemies who are out to defeat me and all of GOD’s faithful people.
I am also encouraged by the realization that both in my prayer life and in my reading and
understanding GOD’s Word that I do not have to do it alone. Just as Moses had the assistance
of Aaron and Hur, so I can call on the help and prayerful support of others who are desirous of
GOD’s forces winning the battle against evil and ways of the world (as opposed to the ways of
GOD). When I gather with others who are also seeking to deepen their relationship with GOD
through prayer and the better understanding of GOD’s Word, it is then that I can be more
assured that I am being authentic and faithful in my living out by relationship with the Lord
Jesus. Our parish promotes the reading of the Word of GOD daily by distributing The Word
Among Us monthly magazine, which gives the readings for every day and a Meditation on the
Word. We also have many Bible Study groups which focus on the readings for the upcoming
Sunday.
I was reminded of this at a Bible Study meeting. We were discussing how our prayer
life/relationship with the Lord Jesus must be more than just an hour a week. By the fact that we
spend time at the Bible Study, and also time preparing for it, we make ourselves more open to
GOD’s Word and to having a prayerful attitude more than just during the weekly assembly at
church. Yet, even those extra hours preparing for and being at the Bible Study are not
enough. We must pray regularly and have a mind-set focused on the Lord Jesus each and every
day, and throughout each day.
Prayer thus flows from the Word of GOD, (both that which we read in the Bible and the
Incarnate Word of GOD). It is bolstered both by my own personal exercise of the discipline of
prayer and in the sharing in communal activity of prayer. It is when I, both alone and in
community, dedicate myself to prayer and the proclamation of GOD’s Word that I am equipped
to fight the lengthy battle against all who would desire to destroy the awareness of GOD’s
presence among the faithful and in the world.
My constant attitude must be that of being aware of GOD, being in relationship with the
Lord Jesus through prayer, and being formed by GOD’s Word. It is then that I can join the
psalmist today and proclaim: “I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; from where shall help
come to me? My help is from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” How does my prayer life
and my study of the Word of GOD deepen my relationship with GOD? Do I pray constantly or is
prayer just an occasional occurrence in my daily living?
The key to salvation is not our actions (what we do), but our faith in GOD and our living out what
GOD would have us do based on that faith. Saint Paul proclaims to the Romans that what made
Abraham the “father of all believers” was not his actions, but his faith in GOD – that is, his
responding to the gift that GOD gave him to put his trust in the LORD GOD. The psalm reminds
us that GOD has been, and will continue to be, faithful to the promises and gifts which GOD gave
to Abraham. In the Gospel, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to those who acknowledge
Jesus as Lord. The Spirit will give wisdom to the words which the believers speak.
Saint Paul, in today’s section from his letter to the Romans, reminds us that what makes
Abraham our ancestor is that Abraham responded to GOD’s gifts. GOD promised to make
Abraham the “father of all believers” and the “father of many nations.” This promise was not
the result of Abraham’s actions, but a result of GOD’s graciousness. All that was left for
Abraham to do was to be faithful to the GOD Who made the promises and Who established the
relationship with Abraham and his descendants. At times, it was hard for Abraham to believe
that he would be the one from whom many nations would come. This was particularly true due
to his own advanced age and the age of his wife Sarah, and the fact that Sarah was childless
until she was 90. We can and should look to Abraham as an example of faith in GOD even in the
midst of circumstances which seem impossible.

In the Gospel, Jesus requires His disciples to be willing to give witness to Him. Those who
acknowledge their relationship with Jesus will be recognized in heaven. Jesus also speaks
about the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the disciples. Those who refuse the gifts of the Holy
Spirit and blaspheme the Holy Spirit and continue to remain in a position contrary to the working
of the Holy Spirit commit an unforgivable sin. Yet those who allow the Spirit to work in their
lives will be given the words to speak when the time comes to proclaim their allegiance to the
Lord Jesus. What was one time when I experienced the awesome presence of GOD with
me? How did I react when I sensed GOD was acting or speaking through me?