GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
The Beatitudes: Lk 6,20-26
The opening section of the Sermon is clearly marked as we have seen in verses 20 and 27. The sermon opens with a series of "blesseds" (6,20-23) which are similar but quite different from those Matthew (Mt 5,1-12), especially as a parallel set of woes follow (6,24-26).
Traditionally and again in more recent translations, these are introduced as "blessed" The Jerusalem Bible translation used in the Lectionary consistently uses "happy" instead. Think about these words and why "happy" is now seen to be inadequate.
Both "Blesseds" and "Woes" have their origins in the Old Testament. For "Blessed" look at both Psalm 1,1 and Jer 17,7 in your Bible. Among others see Psalm 112,1 or 119,1 or Daniel 12,12. They are to be found elsewhere in the New Testament: John 20,29 or Apoc 1,3, for example.
Luke is particularly fond of these blesseds, around 10 altogether beginning in 1,42 onwards. 14,13-15 would be a good example for the present series.
Note how these "blesseds" differ from, for example, those in Numbers 6,22-27.
Woes are also to be found among the prophets. Look for example at Amos 6,1.4 or Habakkuk 2,6-20. "Alas" is often used, I prefer "woe" which I find stronger. What are Amos and Habakkuk saying with these woes?
Now read Luke's Beatitudes and compare them with Matthew's (5,1-12). Literally, the first reads "Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" and the next two similar. Just about every translation though includes "you" in the first line for these three: "Blessed are you poor". It is worth considering what difference this makes.
To whom is Jesus speaking? The first Beatitude makes the point as do those Beatitudes of Matthew which Luke omits. What conclusion can we draw about Luke's message compared to Matthew? (See 1,52-53 and elsewhere).
Matthew does have woes - look at chapter 23. Can you suggest why Matthew separates them but Luke brings them together? How do Luke's woes correspond to the beatitudes?
Note how the blesseds and woes both have two parts - what is the linking word? What is the purpose of the second part? What verb tense is being used?
For the kingdom of God, see 4,43 and then 4,18. Taking the Blesseds and Woes together, what is Luke's message here?
Compare the last beatitude (6,22-23) and the last woe (6,26). See 1 Kings 22.
Time now for a look at my response.
The Sunday Gospel
The Beatitudes of Luke are the Gospel for the 6th Sunday of the Year. Unlike the Beatitudes of Matthew which are used frequently, this is the only appearance of Luke's Beatitudes in the Sunday Lectionary.
The OT accompaniment to the Gospel reading of Luke's Beatitudes is a short passage from Jeremiah and a responsorial psalm (Ps 1) with the same theme. Do the Jeremiah reading and the Psalm make good choices as accompaniment for these Beatitudes? Why might I think that they fall short of being suitable for Luke's Beatitudes?
Look again at my response.
We now move on to the second stage of the sermon, 6,27-38, which is concerned with loving and judging.