CONTRASTING BLESSINGS AND WOES

 CONTRASTING BLESSINGS AND WOES

Four blessings and four woes—a slightly different version of the Beatitudes than we find in Matthew’s Gospel. Most likely, the Lucan version—our Gospel today—is the original version and that Matthew has redacted them slightly for his own purposes. Does this make the Lucan version better than the one in Matthew? Of course not. This is a beautiful example of the wonders of the Scriptures and how God used human instruments in providing us with His Word as He desires us to have it.

The contrasting of the blessings and woes causes us to reflect on the fact that it is our choices that determine whether we take them up or not. Matthew is more concerned to present a more polished version of the Beatitudes as our basis for the virtues. Luke simply says it as it is, with very little reflection, as he wants to make it clear that virtue and vice can be easily distinguished from one another. To the degree that we promote and live the spirit of the “blessings,” we will be virtuous. To the degree that we are suffering from the woes, we know that we have some serious decisions to make if we want to change this.

I also like the way that Luke does not tone things down—he simply says it how it is: “Blessed are the poor!” Matthew adds “in spirit,” perhaps because he has many wealthy members in the community he is writing to. The simple starkness of the language of Luke is refreshing and in stark contrast to the “politically correct tolerance” of almost everything in today’s society. It is refreshing to be reminded that God wants to keep things as simple as possible. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

----------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What kind of life are you experiencing at the moment? Is it a life of blessing or a life of woes? Is there something you need to change?