Desperate Times
How far would you go to be healed?
He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. - Luke 6:17-19
In desperate times, we do desperate things. We may travel halfway across the globe to seek treatment for an incurable disease, or we may take matters into ur own hands to feed our families when we have nothing.
There is a big difference there. One may be legal and the other not. But when it comes to living under duress, who can say what course of action we may choose.
Today's Gospel reading appears just before Luke tells us his version of Jesus sharing blessings like those in the Sermon on the Mount, with his disciples.
'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. 'Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 'But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 'Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. 'Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 'Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.'
We may take this a few ways, focusing on the blessings or the woes, but what if we look at the inevitability of life changing events?
No matter what we are living through now, it could change in an instant, for the better or for the worse.
What we rejoice in today we might bewail tomorrow, and vice versa.
So, how is that Good News?
Knowing God is with us through good and bad makes a huge difference in our lives. We can find the strength to deal with the bad times, knowing the good times can come.
And we can avoid the selfishness and pride that can come with abundance, to show compassion on those in need.
If all who are rejoicing share with all who are suffering, the world could be a better place for all.
So, maybe we should take stock. Where are we right now on the slide rule of blessings and woes?
Are we in a position to give or are we in need of help?
With God's help, we can make life better for someone.
More to come...