Wednesday 9 September 2026 - Blessed are you

0:00Today is Wednesday 9 September, the feast of St. Peter Claver S.J., in the 23rd week of ordinary time. Blessed are Lord my soul who leads me into life. The most important thing to do in this moment as you enter into prayer is to let go for a moment. To let go of your concerns, your worries and fears and reluctance, and let yourself be led by God. Trusting that God who loves you will lead you into life.

1:14Blessed are Lord my soul and let us all be dead. Blessed are Lord my soul who leads me into life. Blessed are Lord my soul and let us all be dead. Blessed are Lord my soul who leads me into life. Blessed are Lord my soul and let us all be dead.

2:19Blessed are Lord my soul and let us all be dead. Blessed are Lord my soul and let us all be dead. Blessed are Lord my soul who leads me into life. Blessed are Lord my soul and let us all be dead. Blessed are Lord my soul who leads me into life.

3:25Blessed are Lord my soul and let us all be dead. Today's reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Then Jesus 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. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you and defame you on account of the Son of Man.

4:30Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. For that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. Woe to you who are not in heaven, for you will be filled.

5:33Woe to you who are not in heaven, for you will be filled. Luke's Jesus speaks directly to you rather than describing others as a distance. The poor, the hungry, the weeping and the hated are blessed. Rich, the full, the laughing and the well regarded are warned. It's a hard reversal to hear. Woe to you find yourself as you listen to these words today. Among the blessed, among those being warned, or somewhere uncomfortably in between. Woe to you who are not in heaven and you are born soon! Woe to you who are not in heaven, for you will be filled.

6:41Woe to you who are not in heaven, for you will be filled. Today, the church remembers Saint Peter's clavus. The Jesuit gave his life to those enslaved, choosing to live among those the world despised rather than among the comfortable. His life itself is a commentary on this gospel. Blessedness found not in security was in solidarity with those who suffer. Who are the people at the margins that you find yourself

7:41drawn to, or perhaps avoiding, what holds you back? As you hear the reading again, notice whether it comforts or unsettles you and let

8:54that response itself become part of your prayer. Then Jesus 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. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. For that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received

9:58your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. And woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. Ask God for the grace to want what Jesus calls blessed. Even when it costs something, and to be honest about the ways you have settled instead for

10:58comfort or approval. Speak to God now about what you find yourself desiring most.

12:52Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Word of God. Amen.