Knowing The Word in Luke 6:24-26

After the blessings, Jesus offers a set of four woes that are sorrowful warnings. The first is to the rich who are predisposed to think they have need of nothing. They rely on wealth rather than God. When all that someone has is wealth, that person is poor indeed. Jesus said they have been paid in full and shouldn’t expect anything more. The second is to those who are satisfied in life and are self-reliant. They will not be in the future. The third is to those who laugh. Jesus is not against laughter. He is criticizing those whose laughter is superficial, who laugh at the easiness of life. And the fourth is to people who are only well spoken of. They must be sacrificing some principle, as it is only the false prophets who win wide acclaim.

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Prayer:

Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous;

Teach me to serve thee as thou deserves;

To give and not to count the cost,

To fight and not to heed the wounds,

To toil and not to seek for rest,

To labor and not so seek reward,

Save that of knowing that I do thy will.

Ignatius Loyola, 1491-1556