Jesus is the Word of God, which does not fail to strengthen the weak and to make rich those who are poor.  It also pierces the hearts that are the hardest, so as to heal them. 

The twelve apostles, many disciples and many other folks are with Jesus.  And he, then, looks at his disciples and preaches to them bliss and woes.  What he tells them cannot but strengthen, for sure, those who are weak, are down, are poor.

But it does not mean that such bliss and woes do not leave those who hear them wondering.  For those who have made their own the point of view of the world find them odd.  It is because, in the eyes of the world, it is a curse to be poor, hungry, to weep.  To be a target, too, of hate, insults and expulsion.  On the other hand, it is blessing, to be rich, have one’s fill, laugh, be praised by all.

So then, Jesus’ words about bliss and woes stand against the way the world think and act.  Hence, for us to be his disciples, we are to trust more his words than those of the world.  In other words, we have to be like Simon.  He trusted more the Master’s words than what he knew about his own job.

And Simon’s trust made for a huge catch.  There is no doubt that our trust will, in turn, will lead Jesus to make us catch his wisdom.  We will thus grasp that what the world deems folly is wisdom.

Jesus seeks to strengthen the weak and to make rich those who are poor.  He also wounds those who close the hearts against those in need. 

We will know, most of all, to see being poor and being rich as Jesus sees it.  He cannot bear that a rich man flaunts his wealth while at his gate lies Lazarus, full of sores.  The beggar can but long to eat the crumbs that fall from the rich man’s table.

The clear teaching is that the Father does not want a son or daughter of his to be poor.  Nor does Jesus, our brother.  He wants no brother or sister left behind in his or her misery.

So, the poor are not blessed for being poor, but for God being on their side.  For his special love for those who need his care more than others.  His love, care and concern so strengthen them that they bear their troubles and trials in peace.  They do not murmur or complain (SV.EN XII:142).  His words so strengthen them that they become as poor as he.  For he did not spare his Son but gave him up for us all.

Jesus’ words strengthen them, too, so that they become poor like him.  For though he was rich, yet he became poor to make us rich by his being poor.  And he gave us his body and shed his blood for.

And, in truth, only such self-emptying love can put an end to the scourge of poverty and the woes of greed.

Lord Jesus, strengthen us and pierce our hardened hearts with your words of bliss and woes.  Grant that we live and die and rise from the dead like you. 

16 February 2025
6th Sunday in O.T. (C)
Jer 17, 5-8; 1 Cor 15, 12. 16-20; Lk 6, 17. 20-26