Reflection on the Word in our Worship
"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."
-Luke 6:24-26 (ESV)
These woes (found in Luke only) are the natural correlative to the beatitudes [Luke 6:20-23]. They pronounce a surprising verdict on qualities and states which people have universally regarded as desirable. But the world’s blessings may encourage an attitude of self-sufficiency which is fatal to spiritual growth. [Our English] "Woe" does not convey the exact force of Jesus’ [teaching]. It is more like "Alas" or "How terrible". It is an expression of regret and compassion, not a threat.
The Collect for The Sixth Sunday of Epiphany
Almighty God, look mercifully upon your people, that by your great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
The Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1 (below playlist)
New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:17-26
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, *
nor stood in the way of sinners,
and has not sat in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, *
and on his law will he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the waterside, *
that will bring forth his fruit in due season.
4 His leaf also shall not wither; *
and look, whatever he does, it shall prosper.
5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them; *
but they are like the chaff, which the wind scatters away
from the face of the earth.
6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment, *
neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
7 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Comments