Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of the 6th Week of Epiphany: Year C
Luke 6:17-26
“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.” (Luke 6: 17)
Geographically, Jesus is in Galilee. We know this because he has just gotten out of the fisherman’s boats preaching to the people (Luke 5:1 – 4)
We know that he was just by Lake Gennesaret which is also called Lake Galilee and Lake Tiberius. While there were hills around, called mountains in the New Testament, Jesus was still in the region of Galilee. This is important as he was on a level place. This is a good analogy for Jesus being on equal footing with all humanity. We all must remember that we are on a level plain traveling together.
Those who came to hear and see him were a great crowd of disciples (students not apostles) and also a great multitude of seekers from Judea, Jerusalem and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. Tire and Sidon are situated on the Mediterranean coast to the north and west.
This three year ministry of Jesus in the region of Galilee again shows that Jesus’ work took place in the region formally known as Israel, separate from Judea, before they were joined by King David. There were high places and low places and level places. Some like to refer this Lucan Beatitudes as the Sermon on the planes because it was a “level place.” You and I need to be on the level and walk between the high and low places in life as we also strive to be on level footing with all humanity.
In Jesus’ words in this section of Luke there are four blessings and four woes. I must admit that I favor Matthew’s Beatitudes most. Matthew has nine blessings, of which, the verse, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” is my favorite;” (Matthew 5:9). In Luke’s version, these are the high and low places. You and I have choices about whether to be blessed, or not. Perhaps it’s better to visit more of the low places and assist God in raising them up. After all, we are all looking forward to being raised, aren’t we? What do you think?
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 