Luke 6:17-26
Blessings and Woes
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 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.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 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.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Jesus talks about those low on the ladder of society...And He says: Blessed 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...“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...
Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote: “Our effectiveness at the bottom of the ladder depends on our communication with the top...Popularity is not necessarily influence...‘Woe upon you,’ said Our LORD, ‘when all men speak well of you.’...Greatest is our compassion for others and our ability to elevate them when we have come down from heaven...The bottom of the ladder is best discovered from the top.”...And so at the bottom of the ladder we learn that (as Fulton Sheen writes) “Before He gives strength, He makes us feel our emptiness.”...
Jesus as showing compassion and love for those on the fringes of society, such as the poor, the sick, the outcasts, and sinners. Examples include healing the sick, forgiving sins, and welcoming tax collectors and prostitutes.
Jesus says: "Woe to you when all men speak well of you" comes from Luke 6:26 (NIV)...This verse can be interpreted as a warning against seeking worldly approval and a call for remaining true to one's convictions even if it leads to criticism...In the context of Jesus' message, it might also highlight the potential hypocrisy of those praised by everyone, suggesting they might not be challenging the status quo or speaking out for the marginalized...
Jesus always showed compassion and gave the poor hope and elevation that they would be valued by Him and His Father...The statement "Greatest is our compassion for others and our ability to elevate them when we have come down from heaven" captures the essence of Jesus' ministry...By coming down from heaven (understood by Christians as God becoming human), Jesus humbled Himself and identified with humanity's suffering...This allows Him to show true compassion and elevate others, not just physically but also spiritually...So maybe poverty and low in society is as much a Spiritual condition as it is an economic one...
Jesus LOVE for the marginalized is a core aspect of Christian faith...Jesus' message as a call for social justice and working towards a more equitable society where all people are valued and have opportunities to thrive...