“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.

Luke 6 : 20 - 21

Reading for this week : Luke 6:17-26

Thought for the week

The news, that the remaining Covid restrictions will be lifted a month earlier than anticipated, came as a surprise. The Travel Industry reacted with great enthusiasm but the rest of us were more cautious in our response.

In addition, lockdown had also given us the bonus of extra quiet time in the presence of God to reassess our priorities.

In our Gospel reading Jesus had a vast and varied crowd around Him from all over Judea, a great many disciples, eager for His teaching, others desperate for His healing and a small group of sceptical religious leaders.

Jesus addressed the many disciples, those who had acknowledged their failings and were choosing the hope, of which He taught, of God’s Kingdom.

But there were those in the crowd, who were puffed up with their own importance and Jesus did not mince His words: God blessed only those, who, having acknowledged their failings, were hungry for a life centred on God, surely a pointer for our own priorities.

Prayer for this week

Eternal God,

whose Son went among the crowds and brought healing with his touch:

help us to show his love,

in your Church as we gather together,

and by our lives as they are transformed into the image of Christ our Lord.

Amen