Blessed

Blessed
All Saints; Luke 6:20-31, Luke 9:1-6, Luke 8:1-3
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Blessed are you who are poor
for yours is the kingdom of God.”
They wandered the roads with him,
having no place to lay their heads.
He sent the twelve through the villages,
to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal,
telling them to take nothing for the journey –
no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money.

Jesus and his disciples chose poverty
to live, express and share the godly life
and they were blessed
by the sustaining ministry of women:
Mary called Magdalene,
Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward,
Susanna and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.

Maybe in being beholden
to rich and privileged families
these women had experienced woe,
like the seven demons oppressing Mary,
but Jesus had freed them
and they had left behind
that world of repressive expectations
and found the consolation
of following and giving.

Riches may seem to offer a good life,
but perhaps we approach the kingdom
when we understand the woes
that mis-used wealth and status
impose upon our world.
Then we are drawn to share resources
and we recognize the blessing
of doing to others
as we would have them do to us.
	Barbara Messner 30/10/2025