6th Sunday in Ordinary Time C - 16th February  

This Sunday’s Gospel is Luke’s version of the Beatitudes that we can find in Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 5 v 2-12. Luke only writes of four beatitudes. He also writes of the consequences of not following the right path. 
We hear from Luke how Jesus came down ‘and stood on a level place’ before He spoke to those who were gathered to hear His words. He was seeing Himself as their equal – He was not preaching to them from on high. We also read how He ‘lifted up His eyes on His disciples’ before speaking. 
 
Jesus spoke of the poor being happy or blessed. We know that this is not Jesus saying how lucky they are to be in this state or that we should all become poor but rather that it is when we are poor or lowly that we tend to realise that we can depend on God to help us. Those who are rich often rely on themselves. Jesus speaks of the poor having the kingdom now, not in the future. 
 
Jesus then turns His attention to those who are hungry, promising them that they shall be satisfied. To those who weep, He promises laughter – something that they may see as being very far away. To those who are hated and excluded and laughed at Jesus promises that they will be able to rejoice as they will be rewarded in heaven. 
 
Luke then writes of four woes that people may face. As Jesus spoke the people listening would have recognised that He was speaking as the prophets did in the past of blessings and woes. He told the rich in no uncertain terms that they had already had their consolation and there would be no more for them. Those who were filled would experience hunger, those who were laughing would be weeping and mourning and those of whom people spoke well as their downfall would come. 
 
In speaking of all these things we can see how Jesus’ words also speak to us. We have become people who, although maybe not rich, are very attached to our possessions. We seek the recognition and affirmation of others rather than seeing how we can recognise the worth of others and affirm them. In reflecting on this week’s Gospel we have the opportunity to reflect on our own lives and see how we measure up to what Jesus was asking of His followers two thousand years ago and what He asks of us today. 
 
 
 
 
Sr. Margaret Mattison 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
https://www.chinakasreflections.com/homily-reflection-for-sixth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-february-17-2019/ 
https://young-catholics.com/3489/6th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c/