by: Deacon Paul Rooney (deaconpaul@cox.net)
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Cycle "C" - February 15, 2004)

Q. 254: Jesus doesn't seem to leave any "gray areas" today: either you are rich and cursed, or poor and blessed (Lk 6:17, 20-26). Is it that simple?

A. 254: Did you ever wonder how much of the actual discourse was left unsaid in Luke's final writing? Is the following scene the one that you picture? Everyone in the "great crowd" is seated. Jesus starts out by saying, "Will all of you who are rich and want to be cursed, please stand up… Okay, Woe to you guys…" Then he says, "Will all of you who are poor and want to be blessed, please stand up… Okay, Blessed are you guys…" No, I don't think it was like that at all!

One of the keys to understanding is to find out what the gospel story tells us about God, and what that means for us now and in our future. There is no question that poverty and oppression - real, physical poverty, and real hatred and persecution of Christians - was a daily reality for Luke's community. Since that is true, the only way they could be called "Blessed" is because their loving God is right there in their midst, sharing in their suffering, no matter what their ordeal! If they keep their trust and dependence on Him, then their future is assured: eternal life with God, as well as peace of mind and heart in this life flowing from that dependent relationship. This is what gave martyrs their inner strength, as part of the fledgling community of Christians.

On the other hand, those who trust only in their own wealth and power and social status are already engaged in self-condemnation. They have chosen to be dependent on "things," the false idols upon which wayward individuals and entire cultures self-destruct. The "Woes" of which Jesus speaks are of their own making, because they have chosen to break the covenant of love with God and with His family.

Know Your Catechism! Everything in moderation; and love for the poor is incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use (CCC #2445). The Lord grieves over the rich who find their consolation in their "things" rather than in Him (CCC #2547). This trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor (ibid). It is our attachment to things that can cause our self-destruction, not the ownership of those things.

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha