How happy are you...

 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C - 13th February 2022

Gospel Luke 6: 17, 20–26

Jesus came down with the Twelve and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God. Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.

Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.

Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I settle down to pray wherever I can, without interruption. Even with noise around me, I can shut the sounds out, and focus on my prayer.

I read the familiar passage several times. Some phrases may be challenging, others comforting. Maybe some apply to me at the moment? I pause and ponder.

I may be drawn to the beginning of the text, and imagine myself with Jesus, his disciples and the crowd. Where am I sitting?

What do I see in Jesus’s eyes as he looks at me? How do I feel?

Perhaps I get the opportunity to speak to him or to one of his close friends. What do I want to tell them? There might be some point I would like them to explain.

But it could be that all I can do just now is focus on one word. What does it mean to me to be ‘happy’? What do I associate with this word? Is it about contentment, wealth, people, or...?

Eventually, my prayer  me comes to an end; so slowly, I say good bye, thankful for the time spent in the Lord’s company.

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!