November 3rd Reflection - Contrasts - by Bill Lynch

Luke 6:20-31
Blessings and Woes
 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘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 on 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.

Love for Enemies
 ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Reflection
Contrasts in living. Contrasts in the blessings and the woes of life. Jesus is a contrast. God in flesh? Jesus is a contrast. One moment in life we are aware and the next moment we aren't aware of anything. We can go from sleep to panic in a matter of seconds. Contrasts in living.

Jesus heeds us to pay attention to those who are blessed. The poor, the hungry, the weeping, the hated and the excluded are living in a contrast. One moment later through a blessing from God life can change. One moment later you may live a life full of the richness of the kingdom of heaven. One moment through a blessing from Jesus you may be full, you may be laughing, you may be jumping for joy. Thanks to the blessing of the contrast of Jesus, God in flesh; we are given the gift of contrasted life. A life that we don't deserve by our own achievements but a life that lasts beyond this contrasted life to an eternal life with God and all of the saints. Contrasts in living.

Yet, Jesus gives us a woe also. A woe of a contrast that opens our eyes to something heavenly. Those that are rich, that are laughing and those that are full; it can all change in a moment. Life is full of contrast. One moment life is full and blessed, the next moment we may be down and out. We all live in this life of contrasts.

We all exist together and we all look to live with those in the contrasts with which we share and reach out to one another. We reach out to the poor and the rich, the mourning and those at the party. We reach out in love as the greatest contrast of all, God in flesh, did to all the people that God gave to him with love and a gracious life of salvation.

We all live our lives in the midst of contrast. And Jesus, the greatest contrast of all came to give life to those who deserve death, that's you and I and all of the world. Contrast that stands for all time.

And we live a life as sinners and saints through the gracious love of God. In whom we place all of our faith and hope and in whom we give our lives, we live this life of contrast in what God desires. To live this life of contrast fully trusting in all God blesses us with day after day after day. Thank God for contrasts!

Prayer
Lord, you have shown me contrasts this week. Contrasts from one moment to another moment. Contrasts in the love shown to me and through me. May I live this life of contrast to your glory. Forgive me when I have wronged another person and bring me to life in you with all of the saints, as I live this life, and with all the sinners, that all people may see your love and believe in you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen