FIRST READING
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (Colossians3:1-1I)
You have died with Christ, put to death therefore what is earthly in you.
Brethren: If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his practices and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm145:2-3.10-11.12- l3ab (R. 9a)
R/. How good is the Lord to all.
I will bless you day after day,
and praise your name forever and ever.
The Lord is great and highly to be praised;
his greatness cannot be measured. R/.
All your works shall thank you,
O Lord, and all your faithful ones bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign,
and declare your mighty deeds. R/.
They shall make known your might to the children of men,
and the glorious splendour of your reign.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule endures for all generations. R/.
ALLELUIA Luke 6:23ab
Alleluia. Rejoice and leap for joy, says the Lord, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 6:20-26)
“Blessed are you poor. Woe to you that are rich.”
At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. “Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. “But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. “Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Luke’s list of blessing and woes is shorter, sharper and more straightforward compared to Matthew’s beatitudes. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus presents a list of four blessings and four corresponding woes. In this new value system of Jesus, he classifies those who are really poor, hungry, weeping and persecuted as blessed because of the reversal of fortune that they will enjoy in his kingdom. God has a preferential love towards them, as they place their trust in him alone. They will, no doubt, be rewarded for what they endure. Conversely, those that enjoy everything in this life tend to be self-satisfied and do not need God as their source of comfort. Their reward comes from their material wealth worldly consolations.