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Woe is me? Luke 6:17-26  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. (Luke 6:24-25, NRSV)  Speaking to a crowd made up of disciples, apostles and just plain folks, Jesus is standing on level ground. Jesus is meeting people on their level, accepting them for who they are and loving and teaching them while looking straight into their eyes. When we hear words such those above, we are oft inclined to interpret them as some sort of doomsday warning, such as this: Listen up, folks, there are bad things waiting for you on the day of reckoning, on the day when you have to come up to that pearly gate and account for your life in front of God. So, you rich ones, you people loaded with money and possessions, you’re going to have a tough time meeting the entrance requirements. The old eye of the needle will come into play, so listen up, listen up or go to that other place! Now I recognize that the issue of being accountable to God is a legitimate concern for us Christians, and we do need to think about and respond to that which God asks of us. At the same time, I struggle with the notion that Jesus’ ministry is grounded in doom and gloom. I rather think that Jesus’ ministry is grounded in love and hope. So is there hope in these words from Luke?  As I hear Jesus in this sermon, he is leveling with me and offering me straight talk about who I am and how I think about myself. I hear Jesus telling me that if I choose to focus upon my own goodness, if I think that I am self-sufficient and independent and have no need of my sisters and brothers, I just may be ‘rich’ in all the wrong ways. Perhaps another way of sharing these same words from Jesus may be of help:                         But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made.                         What you have is all you’ll ever get.                         And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself.                         Your self will not satisfy you for long.                         And it’s trouble ahead if you think that life’s all fun and games.                         There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.                                     (Eugene Peterson, The Message, Eugene Peterson)  I know it’s not wrong to think about what will happen at the ‘pearly gate’. However, here’s my question: If we hear and live out the love and the hope present in these words of Jesus, will we contribute to a less hellish kingdom on earth, and those pearly gates will just take care of themselves? - Pastor Piet - February 11, 2007  (You are encouraged to read the scripture passage in its entirety. I also invite you to compare the Sermon on the Level Place with the Sermon on the Mount, Matt.5:1-7:27)