Faith Daily | 7 September 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p576

O God,

you know us to be set in the midst

of so many and so great dangers

that by reason of the frailty of our nature

we cannot always stand upright:

grant to us such strength and protection

as may support us in all dangers

and carry us through all temptations;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 6: 20-26

20Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25“Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Cathy Grant

This seems a challenging passage for those who live in Kenmore-Brookfield with its median weekly household income of $3,329* compared with the Australian median income of $1,200* (still the fourth highest in the world) or the South African median annual income of $1,624.

Jesus is teaching his disciples (ourselves included) the very great difference between the values of his kingdom and the values of our secular society. Those who are in poverty, hunger, sorrow or are hated, when this is the result of a focus on following Christ, are blessed because they are laying by treasures in heaven, rather than finding their treasure in earthly things.

Tom Wright** describes this passage as Jesus’ version of the covenant between God and Israel, giving good news to those who follow him and suffer for it. Blessings on them when God’s kingdom and God’s justice ultimately prevail and the world is righted.

Wright discusses how Jesus’ message of promise and warning, of blessing and curse deliberately rang with echoes of the Hebrew prophets of old in order to evoke the shocked reaction of society’s order being turned on its head. The first will be last and the last first.

Wright ponders, What are Jesus’ promises and warnings for our world, and for us today, people who hear his call and profess to follow him? He asks, Do we focus on monetary wealth and earthly banquets or on God’s kingdom and his values? Challenging questions for us in the wealthy society in which we live.

*Source: ABS 2021 Census and Worldpopulationreview.com

**Luke for Everyone by Tom Wright, 2001

FINAL PRAYER Peggy M de Cuehlo, Uruguay

Lord, you placed me in the world

to be its salt.

I was afraid of committing myself

afraid of being stained by the world.

I did not want to hear what ‘they’ might say.

And my salt dissolved as if in water.

Forgive me, Jesus.

Lord, you placed me in the world

to be its light.

I was afraid of the shadows,

afraid of the poverty.

I did not want to know other people.

And my light slowly faded away.

Forgive me, Jesus.

Lord, you placed me in the world

to live in community.

Thus you taught me to love,

to share in life,

to struggle for bread and for justice,

your truth incarnate in my life.

So be it, Jesus.

Amen.