Father Jarrod Lies’ homily, February 16th, 2025
6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, year C: Luke 6:17, 20-26
I believe this Gospel is one of the clearest examples of how Christianity turns worldly values on their head. Very few Gospels present such a piercing challenge to what is common to the human person, prompting us to ask, “What does He mean by that?”
The instinct of the human person is to seek wealth, to cure hunger, to alleviate sorrow, and to avoid visceral hatred. Yet, today, we hear Jesus proclaim:
“But woe to you who are rich… Woe to you who are filled now… Woe to you who laugh now… Woe to you when all speak well of you…” (Luke 6:24-26, NABRE).
These words cut against our natural inclinations. We instinctively desire these comforts. Yet, in contradiction, the Gospel proclaims:
“Blessed are you who are poor… Blessed are you who are now hungry… Blessed are you who are now weeping… Blessed are you when people hate you…” (Luke 6:20-22, NABRE).
It’s difficult to understand, especially since “blessed” can also mean “happy.” Happy are the poor? Happy are those who weep? Happy are the hungry? Happy are the hated? This seems contradictory.
But consider this, is there anyone truly content with enough wealth? Isn’t it more common that, no matter how much wealth someone has, they desire more? Regarding hunger—if there were truly people who never experienced hunger, there would be no need for diets or concerns about obesity. Hunger itself signals a desire for more and more food. If someone is only laughing, are they truly aware of the world’s troubles? Constant laughter could mean they’re hiding from challenges, perhaps even pretending those challenges don’t exist. And if someone is universally praised, does that not suggest they lack firm values? Such a person is a chameleon. It’s impossible to share every value with everyone, because values differ between people. Not to mention that Gospel values contradict worldly values.
So, what could Christ possibly mean?
“Blessed are you who are poor.”
The truth is that at some point, we all experience poverty. To be clear, the Church does not rejoice in destitution. We, as a Church, certainly reach out to those destitute, lacking proper shelter, food, clothing, or water—basic human needs. But destitution is not the same as poverty. Poverty is a right relationship to material things. The Church values simplicity, calling it “noble simplicity.”
Isn’t it true that in the United States, materialism oftenovertakes us? So many people hoard possessions, allowing them to dominate their minds and lives. Poverty, in the Gospel sense, is the ability to place material things in their proper place—as tools. We use what we need and discard what we don’t. Poverty acknowledges that material things can never satisfy our eternal desires.
But what about the wealthy? Does the Church condemn them? Didn’t Jesus say, “Woe to you who are rich”? Or that “The love of money is the root of all evils” (1 Timothy 6:10, NABRE)? Yet, even the wealthy can practice the virtue of poverty if they recognize their wealth as a blessing meant to be shared. The wealth, indeed, may not possess them. And in this sense, the wealthy and the poor can be equal in their desire to share. By sharing with those in need, both the wealthy and the poor live out the Gospel call to generosity.
“Blessed are you who are hungry.”
This doesn’t suggest that those lacking food should simply be content. Where there is a lack of food, we must provide food. But what is hunger? At its root, it is a bodily yearning. So, hunger symbolizes yearning. “Blessed are you who yearn.” Fasting, for example, teaches us self-restraint. Spiritually, hunger reflects a deeper longing—for the Kingdom of God. This spiritual hunger is a recognition that there is nothing in this world that will satisfy our eternal longing. As St. Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” This restlessness is a spiritual hunger that only God can satisfy.
This idea even applies to marriage. No spouse is perfect. No spouse can fulfill every yearning of the other. Spouses should not expect each other to fulfill every desire of the heart. Only God can do that. Both husband and wife should look to the Lord as the ultimate satisfaction of their deepest yearnings.
“Blessed are you who are now weeping.”
This does not celebrate despair or depression. Those in deep darkness need our care, presence, concern, attentiveness, and active support. Rather, spiritual “weeping” means seeing the world in its brokenness. As Christians, we are not ostriches. We are not to hide from the world’s wounded nature. We are in a world marked by sin, saying to ourselves, “My life, my family, my community, my country, and the world have been damaged by sin.” This is worthy of our tears.
Lately, we’ve heard much of the 300,000 children lost at the border. Many, it is feared, have been lost to the horrors of human trafficking. We should be outraged by such injustices. Yet, how often do we hear about the cultural sickness in the United States that enables such exploitation? Have you heard the news accuse Americans of such wickedness? Where is the righteous indignation against the evil in the United States that causes harm to those so trafficked? If we are not weeping, and if we are not angry over this evil existing in our society, we are turning a blind eye to what demands our attention. Is not this worthy of our tears?
“Blessed are you when people hate you.”
This beatitude praises those who hold firm values—values so visible that others may reject not only the beliefs but the person holding them. This doesn’t justify being obnoxious or self-righteous, insisting on one’s opinion everywhere. Rather, it acknowledges the courage it takes to publicly live out one’s faith. When we live by the commandments of Christ, some will find them odious and will reject us. That’s a mark of genuine discipleship. It takes courage to be, publicly, a person of faith.
So how can one be happy when poor, hungry, weeping, or hated? The answer lies in trust. When poor, we recognize God as our sufficiency. When hungry, we long for the Kingdom to come. When weeping, we see the brokenness of the world and are moved to act. When hated, we know we stand unashamedly as Christ’s disciples, thereby inviting others to believe in Him likewise.
This world is like a womb, preparing us for eternal life to come. Its pains are labor pains, birthing us into the eternal Kingdom. Either we embrace this truth or we don’t.
Be poor… Be hungry… Weep… Let people hate you… If your values are rooted in Christ, you will “receive mercy and find grace for timely help” (Hebrews 4:16, NABRE). Thus, you will be blessed—happy—even as you traverse the world’s brokenness.
Father Jarrod Lies, Pastor