The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”

Paraphrase of Psalm 34

Today’s gospel brought back memories of one way my mom would scold us: “First you laugh, then you cry.”  Clearly, Jesus (and Mom’s) point is not simply some arbitrary reversal of feelings.

On the other hand, can we rally believe that our place in is life is totally deserved?  Take a moment to consider how much luck of the draw plays in our position, wealth and status.

Getting back to the gospel:

The Gospel of Luke.....will confound all our expectations and will overturn our experiences. In fact, in the Kingdom of God everything will be turned upside down.  This is especially true when it comes to power, privilege and wealth. Luke assures us time and again that in God’s Kingdom those who struggle in life now—those who are at the bottom or on the edges of human society—will suddenly find themselves at the top and in the center. On the other hand, he warns those who now enjoy the greatest human security and social advantage that their experience may be very different......This notion that in the end God will turn everything we know upside down is often called the “Great Reversal.” It is a hallmark of Luke’s Gospel, where it appears frequently.  

From  “God’s Great Reversal:  Key to the Gospel of Luke” Franciscan media.

Elaine Rendler, one of my go to sources asks the following:  Who might be considered a Lazarus in our lives?.....In a nutshell, a Lazarus is someone for whom we do not have enough compassion.  Let us pray today for compassion.  We will all be richer people.  It is what keeps us human. 

Blest to be in ministry with you at St. Mary’s,

Bruce

“Here at your table the greatest are least.  The burdened find rest and the hungry can feast….God in your goodness, we share a place at your table.”

“A Place At Your Table”   Words and music by Ben Walther