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Looking at his disciples, he said:
\u201cBlessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.\xa0
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:20-26)

This is Luke\u2019s version of the Sermon on the Mount, usually referred to as the Sermon on the Plain because Luke sets the scene with Jesus standing on a level place. \xa0After withdrawing for prayer, Jesus has just named and called his twelve disciples and now he teaches them, along with a whole crowd of others from around the land.

In Matthew\u2019s version of the beatitudes: that\u2019s all they are, beatitudes. \xa0Blessings. \xa0But here in Luke we get both sides of the coin. \xa0Blessings and woes. \xa0And the woes get a little close to home. \xa0

This is an unavoidable theme in the gospel of Luke. \xa0\u201cHe has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty\u201d says Mary in her song, the Magnificat, at the beginning of the gospel (Luke 1:53). \xa0Jesus similarly declares in Luke 4 that his mission is to \u201cproclaim good news to the poor\u201d (Luke 4:18). \xa0And unlike Matthew\u2019s beatitudes where it is the \u201cpoor in spirit\u201d who are blessed: Luke unavoidably refers to the materially, economically poor. \xa0The people who are physically hungry from malnutrition. \xa0There is no spiritualizing Jesus\u2019 words. \xa0Which means that we can\u2019t wriggle ourselves out of the woes on the rich either.

Who can deny that the majority of us have received our good material comforts from a disposable income most of the rest of the world would call wealth? \xa0Who can deny that three square meals a day equates to being well fed? \xa0Who can avoid the fact that having the disposable time to binge watch the Olympics or participate in whatever other entertainment or gatherings with friends and family has led to a relatively easy life of laughter and joy? \xa0\xa0

Do we also have our sorrows and hardships? \xa0Of course we do, but nothing more than is common to the rest of humanity. \xa0What we have that is not common to the rest of humanity however, is peace, security, health care, opportunity, and financial stability, even wealth. \xa0 \xa0

So what are we to do with this teaching of Jesus that seems to single us out for woes and future disaster? \xa0Are we left to just feel guilty for living where we do and having what we have? \xa0

No, I don\u2019t think so. \xa0Jesus\u2019 mission statement from chapter 4 draws on Isaiah 58. \xa0It seems to me that Luke has Isaiah 58 in mind in chapter 5 and 6 of his gospel as well. \xa0In what precedes this text Jesus talks about fasting, Sabbath, poverty and wealth. \xa0What comes after is commentary on a generous life. \xa0That\u2019s Isaiah 58 in a nutshell, where one of the central invitations is to \u201cspend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.\u201d \xa0

It\u2019s not wrong to have wealth. \xa0But Jesus always invites us to remember that we who have it are only trustees of something that does not actually belong to us. \xa0Like Joseph overseeing the grain distribution in Egypt\u2014wealth is entrusted to us by God so that we might distribute it to its intended recipients according to his direction. \xa0This, I think is Jesus\u2019 kingdom intent: that we spend ourselves and all that has been entrusted to us on behalf of those who are poor, hungry, and weeping from oppression. \xa0 \xa0

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God: \xa0 \xa0

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you.\xa0
May he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.