Catholic Identity
Scripture Luke 6:17, 20-26
"He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there, and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon…
Looking at his disciples, he said:'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.’”
This passage reminds us to consider where we find our true blessing and security—in the fleeting things of the world or in the everlasting promises of God.
About the Story
In this part of the Bible, Jesus is teaching a large crowd of people. He talks about what it really means to be blessed. Instead of saying that riches, fame, and comfort are the greatest things in life, He says that people who are poor, hungry, sad, or mistreated because of their faith are actually blessed. At the same time, He warns those who have lots of money, food, and popularity that they may not have the kind of happiness that truly lasts. Jesus wants us to understand that God’s kingdom is different from what the world values.
Something to think about
What do you think it means to be blessed? Many people think blessings are about having nice things, lots of friends, or being successful. But Jesus teaches that real blessings come from trusting God, even when life is hard. He challenges us to think about what really matters. Are we chasing after things that don’t last, or are we relying on God to take care of us? How can we live in a way that follows Jesus' teaching?