6th Sunday Ordinary Time - Year C

Trust In God

“In God We Trust; all others must pay cash!”  this sign, hanging over the cash register in a store, always brings a smile to the passers-by.  Jeremiah, in today’s 1st Reading (Jer. 17:5-8) makes a similar point, namely, there is a blessedness that comes to those who trust in God; however, those who put their trust in anyone or anything other than God will find that blessedness eludes them.  This theme of trust is presented in today’s gospel (Lk. 6:17, 20-26) in a more challenging form with its series of woes on the rich, the full (or satisfied), the joyful and the well-liked.

Jesus promised that the poor would possess the kingdom, the hungry would be filled, the weeping would laugh and the hated, insulted and ostracized would have a heavenly reward.  By the same token, the rich, full, laughing and those who are well thought of will know: need, hunger, grief and rejection.  No doubt, Jesus’ contemporaries were shocked at His contrasting pronouncements of blessings and woes.  According to popular belief, those who enjoyed an abundance of this world’s goods were thought to be blessed by God, whereas those who suffered from the lack of material possessions were considered cursed; their condition was regarded as just punishment for sin.  Although our knowledge as to the reasons for the economic circumstances of the poor and the wealthy has altered and developed, nevertheless Jesus’ radical statements have not become any easier to accept or understand.  They challenge our trust in the truth of the good news.

We, for our part, who long to be among the blessed, are to cultivate a trust in the mercy of God, who will answer our hunger with satisfaction, our sorrowing with joy, our rejection by the world with a loving welcome and our poverty with a place.

Lord Jesus, 
help us to have perfect trust in your wisdom and providence.                 AMEN +