Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.  
Luke 6:20-21

I'm amazed at the way people who would be considered poor by my standards show me something entirely new. They show me delight, they show me contentment, they show me a zest for life that I often miss in my daily life. Jesus' words remind us that the poor can show us something big; they show us the Kingdom of God. I believe that in reading Jesus' message to us from Luke chapter 6, we hear the message that was at the core of Jesus' ministry while on earth. We are called to not only proclaim the good news, but also to be an embodiment of God's love and Christ's message each day.
How would your life be different if you started letting the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the captive, the oppressed, and the left-out lead you into the Kingdom of God?

Prayer for Today

Merciful God, in the flesh and bone of Jesus Christ you became poor and weak to show us a better way to live, a way of life not defined by wealth or status but by contentment and freedom in serving other people. Help me to see the poor and the outcast leading the way to your heart and your ways. In Christ's Name, Amen.