SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE C

Open with a prayer: Lord, in your Word today, you say to us, "Blessed are those who meditate upon your Word and place their trust in you." Bless us now, Lord, as we gather together to meditate upon your law and help us to always place our trust in you and not in the things of this world. Amen.

Sharing of life: What, if anything, does Valentine's Day mean to you?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first reading contrasts the wicked, who place their trust in human beings, with the righteous, who place their trust in God. The gospel is Luke's Sermon on the Plain, which also speaks about trust in God. The second reading emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection in the Christian life.

Now read the readings, pausing briefly after each one. Consider reading the commentary after each reading, if you have not already done so.

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Jeremiah conducted his ministry during a time when Israel's leaders shifted their trust in God and placed it in the leaders of pagan nations. Today's verses from Jeremiah are directed toward Israel's leaders and all who place their trust not in God but in humans. Those who place their whole trust in human beings are compared to a "barren bush in the desert". The wise or righteous who place their trust in God are compared to a tree planted in the water. Such people are secure and productive because they are rooted in God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 1

This psalm is a clear echo of the first reading. There is a contrast between the good and wicked, between human and divine counsel. What matters most of all is a God-centered life, which ultimately will not disappoint.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

It seems that some of the Christians in Corinth raised some questions about the resurrection. In response, Paul reasserts the central importance of the resurrection to the Christian life. Without it, all else crumbles. If there is no resurrection, there is no victory over sin and death, and our faith is in vain.

GOSPEL: Luke 6:17, 20-26

This weekend and next weekend we will listen to excerpts from what may be the most challenging verses in Luke's Gospel, his "Sermon on the Plain".

Jesus takes the accepted beliefs of his day and stands them on their heads. He names four groups of people who would have been regarded as very blest and states that they are anything but blest. And he takes four groups who would have been regarded as cursed and pronounced them blest. Jesus is speaking to a situation in which the economically poor were reduced to begging. They were marginalized. The rich and better off members of the community failed in their covenant with God by not coming to the rescue of the poor. When this happened God sided with the poor and spoke on their behalf. Let's now look briefly at each of the four sets of blessings and woes.

Blessed are the poor... and woe to the rich

The poor are not blest because they are materially destitute. Rather, they are blest because they are able to place their trust in God in the midst of poverty. They are blest because God is on their side. The rich are not cursed simply because they are materially well off, but because of their failure to come to the rescue of the poor by generously sharing their blessings with them. They are having their reward now, but they will lose out big time in the reign of God.

Blessed are the hungry, . . . woe to the full

Jesus is not saying it's a blessing to be starving and a curse to have a good meal. He is saying we are blessed if we can keep trusting in God in empty/hungry times. Also, it is a blessing if we are hungry for God. It is a curse if our "plenty" times lead us to ignore God. It is a curse to be spiritually self-satisfied.

Blessed are you if weeping, . . . woe if laughing

It is a blessing if we mourn for our sins and for the injustices in our world and for the losses we experience in life. It is not a curse to be happy. But it is a curse if our laughter is a cover-up for our sadness and if it is at the expense of others. Some become rich at the expense of others.

Blessed are you if people hate you . . . woe if people speak well of you

We are blessed if people reject us because of our love for Jesus. On the other hand, it is a curse to be spoken well of in a world that rejects Jesus.

Poverty, hunger, tears and rejection are not to be sought after. But if they come to us as a result of our following Jesus, then they are blessings. God can turn poverty, hunger, tears and rejection into blessings. We see this when people in bad times turn to God and convert to his ways. On the other hand, a good financial portfolio could lead to our spiritual demise. Finally, the beatitudes only make sense to one who has fully embraced the ways of Jesus. To the rest, they are nonsense.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse, image or idea spoke to you most? Why?

2. What verse in today's readings makes you feel most uncomfortable? What verse challenges you the most?

3. What would you name as blessings and curses in your life?

4. What are the things you hunger for most?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on these readings. Suggestion: Spend some time meditating on where you tend to place your security. While we would all like to say, "My trust is in God alone", how true is that in your life?

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION