Wednesday 11 September 2024

Today is Wednesday the 11th of September in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time. Jon Guerra sings, ‘The Kingdom of God’. Oh that I could see your face How I’m longing for that day Brighter sun of holy grace Make my heart a holy place Blessed are the poor who have nothing to own Blessed are the mourners who are crying alone Blessed are the guilty who have nowhere to go For their hearts have a road to the kingdom of God And their souls are the songs of the kingdom of God And they will find a refuge for theirs is the kingdom of God Beauty shining from your face Always longed to see this place Is there somewhere I can stay? Even just a couple days? Blessed are the poor who have nothing to own Blessed are the mourners who are crying alone Blessed are the guilty who have nowhere to go For their hearts have a road to the kingdom of God And their souls are the songs of the kingdom of God And they will find a refuge for theirs is the kingdom of God The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want In valley or pasture, we shall not want Our cup runneth over and over For now and forever For now and forever The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want In valley or pasture, we shall not want Our cup runneth over and over For now and forever For now and forever For now and forever For now and forever Blessed are the poor who have nothing to own Blessed are the mourners who are crying alone Blessed are the guilty who have nowhere to go For their hearts have a road to the kingdom of God And their souls are the songs of the kingdom of God And they will find a refuge for theirs is the kingdom of God Oh that I could see your face How I’m longing for that day Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 6:20-26 Then he 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 on 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. Our reading today will be read again, slowly, pausing between each line to give space for time to reflect on these important words of the Beatitudes and how they speak into our lives today. Notice what challenges and comforts you. You may like to keep a pen and paper nearby to make notes. Then he 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 on 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. Now talk with the Lord about the things you have noticed. Perhaps you’ve encountered discomfort, and if you have, might this perhaps lead to change? Now continue the conversation, telling Jesus where you have found comfort in these words… give thanks, and let these words take their place in your heart today. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.