Luke 6:20-31
Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice 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.”
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “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. “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
The Gospel of Luke 19:1-10 Assigned Gospel for November 2, 2025 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Let us Pray: O God of the lowly and the hungry, You lift up those the world casts down. We come with empty hands and open hearts, trusting your promise of the kingdom. Bless those who hunger for justice, who weep for what is broken, who are mocked for standing with Christ. Let your Spirit be their comfort and strength. Teach us to rejoice not in riches or applause, but in the joy of your presence and the hope of your reign. May we live as citizens of your upside-down kingdom, where mercy triumphs and love endures. Amen.
We draw inspiration from exemplary individuals and are continually motivated by participating in collective worship. The phrase “Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven…” encapsulates this sentiment. In reality today’s saints are the uncomplicated, everyday people whose actions resemble the essential elements of daily life, much like bread and wine in the Eucharist. These individuals facilitate spiritual enrichment for others and serve as foundational support within their communities.
It is not just about personal virtue, it’s about building a community shaped by mercy, justice, and humility. These are the people deep within our community who bring God into our lives. They are the vehicles of grace and the hope of glory. These are some of the things we know about saints and when we stop and think about it, the saints are people just like you and me and that is good news. Today’s Saints are women and men whose lives flow seamlessly from prayer to action and from action to prayer in a continuous loving way of life. It invites us to embrace vulnerability as a doorway to grace. resist retaliation and choose forgiveness and live generously, even when it’s not returned. The Sermon on the Plain echoes the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew but with its own distinct rhythm and emphasis. By exploring its spiritual, ethical, and communal dimensions. Jesus begins by blessing the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the hated—those whom society often overlooks or marginalizes. These blessings are not sentimental; they are declarations of divine favor upon those who suffer injustice and exclusion. We are blessed when we seek God, regardless of our earthly circumstances, and we find woe whenever we are self-satisfied instead of God-seeking. So, what do the blessings and woes from the first part of this Gospel have to do with Christ’s instructions for living like true saints of God? At first, it sounds like the very things that bring us woe are the same things that bring us blessings, doesn’t it? But there is a difference. Look carefully at what Jesus is saying in these Beatitudes and their matching woes. What do all the blessings have in common? Seeking God. What do all the woes have in common? Seeking ourselves. I think the message is actually pretty simple: We are blessed when we seek God, regardless of our earthly circumstances, and we find woe whenever we are self-satisfied instead of God-seeking. It invites us to embrace vulnerability as a doorway to grace. resist retaliation and choose forgiveness and live generously, even when it’s not returned. This passage is not just about personal virtue, t’s about building a community shaped by mercy, justice, and humility. It invites us to: Embrace vulnerability as a doorway to grace. Resist retaliation and choose forgiveness. Live generously, even when it’s not returned. “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This isn’t just ethical, it’s a call to compassion.
Let us Pray: Righteous God, You speak truth to our comfort and challenge our ease. Forgive us when we cling to wealth, when we feast while others hunger, when we laugh without compassion. Turn our hearts toward your justice. Let our abundance become generosity, our laughter become empathy, our comfort become courage. Amen
Reflections by Bob 