Two ways to live
Lk 6,17.20-26
   
    Jesus’ reflection on life marks a very fundamental and sharp contrast between his disciples and the other people.  He says that his disciples are “blessed”, while the other people face a malediction.

No question of religious fundamentalism. Giving his judgement “Jesus raises his eyes towards his disciples”. He doesn’t like to teach nor he likes to act in a sacred context as it is along Matthew’s tradition. Jesus is simply “on a stretch of level ground” with a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastland region of Tyre and Sidon. They want “to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all”. Jesus is among people looking for help and knowing how rough and injust is common life. There are those, who ask why are they sick, even though they have the same cultural education and walk by the same sidewalks and go to same amusements and share the same friends of those, who are healthy and have no problem at all.

    Jesus speaks raising his eyes toward his disciples. He gives them a place of honour. He exults them, because they accepted to follow him, leaving behind every personal interest, family, job, friendship and acquaintances. They have chosen to enter into a new life, stamped only on Jesus’ person. They start anew as they have no experience. 

    For this reason they suffer poverty and lack every common life facilities. Thou they face pitiful situations; they consider them better than any other style of life, where Jesus is not the inspiration. He loves people and likes to be active for their goodness. He heals everyone who approaches him. He speaks to enlighten people and to help them understand the meaning of life. He certainly likes that all may have a better life, following its value and not to give it up for unworthy richness.  

    The disciples live with Jesus, because they see the benefits of the new life. They are happy and come to understand that Jesus is the only reason of their happiness. They want to follow him totally. And Jesus exalts them for their choice and calls them “blessed”. They found the way to life. They reached the happiness that philosophers assert to have found by elite principles that are incompatible with common life.

    The disciples look at the man Jesus and at his word, which brings to them a living spirit of life unknown to human philosophies. Jesus is expert of life and he is very different from any other. A power, which heals all sick ones, comes out from him. He has brought God among men. Every thing he does or every word he says, witnesses that he has power to give life and that he is life itself.

    Jesus stays on level ground among common people without avoiding the incertitude of the future time. He is a real no protected man, whose word gives to everyone who accepts it, the high position of the blessed ones.
    
Fr. Tiziano Pegoraro
Rogationist missionary priest
at St Ladislav Church in Bratislava

Bratislava, February 14 2010