A man with lipstick on his collar who smelled of gin stumbled into a mostly empty church and sat next to a priest who was saying prayers in the front row. He took out a newspaper and began reading. “Shay, Father, what caushes arthritish?” The priest, none too happy with his pew partner said, “Mister, it’s caused by loose living, alcohol, and being with wicked women. “Well, I’ll be darned,” the drunk muttered, returning to his paper. Having second thoughts about his words, the priest nudged the drunk and apologized. “I’m sorry. That was unkind of me. How long have you had arthritis?” “Oh, I don’t have it, Father. I was jush reading here that the Pope does.”
Religion is all about heaping praise and blessings upon deserving dignitaries. We bestow honor on the Lords of every age: warlords, rabbis, popes, royalty, presidents, top brass, et al. We are trained to do so early on – in history and in our own lives. Religious books such as the Old Testament are instrumental in training us. They tell us, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.” That includes the Lords of every age, the ones who invented and maintain the Lord system of honor for the deserving and dishonor for the undeserving. That same book tells us, “Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings.” Then along comes Jesus. He tells us to trust in human beings. He goes even further and tells us that it is those very lesser human beings who are blessed – and for the most un-V.I.P.-like qualities. “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.” The same person then tells us, “But woe to you who are rich.” “Woe to you who are filled.” “Woe to you who are laughing.” “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets the same way.”
“The values and norms of our society become so deeply ingrained in our minds that we find it difficult to imagine alternatives. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus presents the kingdom as a new order breaking in upon, and overturning, old ways, old values, old assumptions. If it does anything, the kingdom of God shatters the assumptions which govern our lives. As kingdom citizens we can’t assume that things are right just because “that’s the way they are.” The upside-down perspective focuses the points of difference between God’s kingdom and the kingdoms of the world.” (Upside Down Kingdom – Donald Kraybill)
Prayer: Spirit of Creation, blessings fill our world.
Question: Who needs to know from me they are a blessing?
February 17, 2019 Gospel Luke 6:17, 20-26 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time