The evangelist Luke revisits the beautiful passage of the Beatitudes found in Matthew (5:2-12), simplifying it and adding four “woes” to the four blessings. Luke contrasts two lifestyles, turning our perspectives upside down.
According to worldly logic, those who lead a comfortable life are considered blessed and fortunate, while Luke sees this as potentially disastrous and full of woes. This is not about divine revenge or jealousy over the success of others but highlights that those who experience abundance and satisfaction may risk becoming complacent, losing their desire for something greater and divine.
On the other hand, those facing hardship and persecution might fall into despair. However, they could also use their suffering as a springboard to seek something deeper and more meaningful. Luke seems to reflect on his own experiences and those of Jesus’ audience and community, urging us to turn negative experiences into opportunities to open ourselves to faith.
Opportunities
The distinction between the rich and the poor is easy to identify externally but difficult to understand internally within a person’s conscience. Only God’s word can penetrate deeply enough to reveal whether we are poor-blessed or rich-unhappy.
Poor-Blessed
Jesus proclaims the poor as blessed not because they are virtuous or have special merits, but because God loves each person according to their needs, and the poor have the greatest needs.
Christians are called to support the poor to emulate Jesus. The current state of the world, filled with misery, hunger, tears, and many kinds of suffering, presents a realm for believers to act in order to be credible. And in this way, we are truly blessed.
