The Gospel for Sunday, February 15, 2004 (Epiphany VI)
Luke 6:17-26
He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples, with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all. Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said: How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh. ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, look!—your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets. But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have plenty to eat now: you shall go hungry. Alas for you who are laughing now: you shall mourn and weep. ‘Alas for you when everyone speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets. -- The New Jerusalem Bible. 1995, c1985. Doubleday: Garden City, N.Y.
A Study
This set of verses introduces and begins some of the most famous sayings of Jesus, and together with its corollary text in Matthew's gospel, can certainly be considered "hard sayings." There is a very large body of meaning in just a few verses, and oddly, neither the earliest Gospel, Mark, nor the last in the canon, John, takes notice. The Mark source is often considered to be primary in Matthew, Luke, and John. But the Sermon on the Plain is omitted in half the gospel accounts.
The context of this scripture is that Jesus had just spent the night in prayer on a hill above a level plain. At daybreak, he summoned [apparently only some of] his disciples and called out twelve to be his apostles. This is the point at which today's reading begins.
Many (Greek: ochlos -- often referring to the ignorant crowd, with some contempt) disciples and a large crowd (plethos -- an unqualified noun: large group) from Jerusalem to the coast had assembled there seeking healing, among other things.
Jesus then looked up at the disciples (were they somehow segregated from the rest of the people?) and began to speak. The poor, the hungry, the sad of those to whom he spoke -- the disciples -- would be taken care of. But then, you disciples will be hated, driven out, as their ancestors treated the prophets. The only "they" there were the non-disciples, the crowd. And then he reversed his thrust and spoke of woe to the rich, the well-fed, the happy, those about whom good is spoken, because that was the way "their" ancestors spoke about false prophets.
A Reflection
The crowd came to touch -- the Greek translates as "attach to" -- Jesus to draw his power to them to satisfy their physical needs. Jesus never denies those needs, and even proactively works to assuage them, as in the feeding of the five thousand [plus their women and children].
But Jesus is addressing the disciples here, not the crowd. He begins the next verse after this selection with "But I say this to you who are listening...." Not just the disciples whom he has fixed with his uplifted eyes.
What is he telling those who are separate from the crowd, those willing to be his pupils, who will follow his teachings, and especially to his newly-minted 'delegates'? Two things: "If you're poor, hungry, sad, separated -- it's going to get a lot better." And, "If you think you've got it made, you are like the false prophet that the crowd's forbears thought were so great." Those Jews had the concept of eternal life well in hand. He's posing the eternal question to those who want to walk in his footprints: "Do you want a tiny bit of happiness today, or a great amount of happiness forever?".
HIs burden is easy. His yoke is light. His questions are hum-dingers.
7:57:03 AM 
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