Sermon, January 24, 2023 by Rev. Kathy Johnson
Imagine you are in a crowd of thousands, at the base of a hill. It is hot, dusty, and very smelly because of all the humanity that surrounds you. You brought lunch and water, so you don’t feel hungry in your stomach, but you are hungry to hear the words of Jesus, because people have told you that he is capable of changing your very life, just by listening to him. You can’t wait! All of your life as an oppressed person, in an oppressed family, born to an oppressed people, you have been waiting for this moment, when the Messiah would come. You wait – although tired, hot, and full of anticipation – you wait. Then he appears…
He begins his sermon. Let’s look at the very first words of this sermon on the mount, the first of what are called the beatitudes. By the way, the word beatitude means supreme blessedness. To be blessed means to be made holy.
As we go through these, one at a time with 2 translations and sometimes with similar wording from Luke, I want you to note on the back of your bulletin, or a scrap of paper at home, which of these hit you today. The one or two that really hit you are the ones you need to see today, to find meaning in your life, as well as hope and relief for your suffering.
5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This is the scripture from the New Revised Standard Version. From Luke, the same beatitude was, Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.
In the Message, a newer translation of the original text, instead of poor, the words are quite different:
You’re blessed when you are at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule. From Luke, You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all, God’s Kingdom is there for the finding.
What does this mean? You are sitting on the grass on the side of a hill, and you hear these words. You may be thinking, Huh? You are poor and you know it. But you do not understand what Jesus means by Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God. Does it mean that we must wait until we are dead, in heaven, to be made holy? To no longer be poor?
Jesus would often say, those who have ears can hear. Some of these beatitudes may not have meaning for you now, so your capacity to hear their meaning may be lacking. Let’s look at the next one.
Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. From The Message: You’re blessed when you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
Now from Luke Chapter 6: Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. And later, Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. And from Luke, the Message translation: You’re blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning. And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games. There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it. Notice, are you grieving? Then this one was for you.
From Matthew, NRSV: 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
From The Message: You’re blessed (remember, made holy) when you’re content with just who you are - no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
From Luke, NSRV: But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Next, The Message: But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you’ll ever get.
Let’s move on.
Matthew: 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. The Message: You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
Luke: Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
From the Message: You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry. Then you are ready for the Messianic meal.
Next. Matthew: 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. The Message: You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being care-ful you find yourself cared for.
There is no corresponding beatitude from Luke, not for the next one either.
Matthew: 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. The Message: You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
What I saw throughout this message was that we all suffer – from lack of food, water, money, grief, stability, self-esteem, or love. Jesus then tells us that those of us who are lacking are also blessed – made holy – because of that lack. He is saying today that if we are not suffering in some way, we will be, because all those things that we have now, we may lack in the future. And we may be lulled into a false sense of security, thinking that all our problems have been solved, that they are solved by our work, our luck, our efforts.
Also, I read that our suffering ends when we put things right with our inner world as opposed to our outer world, and when we care more about our relationship with God than we do about our material physical world.
I see this message on two levels. On a simple level, we are blessed when we suffer, and that our suffering will be relieved when we die, when we reach Heaven after life. But I think the message has a deeper meaning, for us, now, in this lifetime, while we are alive.
The message, then, is that we are blessed when we are suffering, because then we are open to God, God’s Light, God’s Love. When we are comfortable and happy, we don’t need God, and easily forget. Forgetting God has a term – sin. Usually, we suffer in some way, and then repent – which means think about God or rely on God’s love to get us through, and then we are comforted once again.
It is a cycle. A never-ending cycle at that. Suffer, return to God for comfort, be comforted. Suffer again, turn to God, receive comfort. Again and again.
So what, where and when is the Kingdom of Heaven? Do we find it only after we die? No. It is every time in your life when you feel the peace and love of God. Let’s find it now, even if for just a moment.
Close your eyes or cast them down. Take in a deep breath, breathing in the light and love of God into our hearts. Blow out any old tensions from this morning. Deep breath in, breathing in God’s light and love, exhale, letting go of tensions from last night or before. Now, one last deep breath in, imagining God’s love permeating your entire body, from the tips of your toes and fingers, to the top of your head. And let that go. Sit for a moment, basking in the Light of God.
All humans suffer. At this time, today, where do you suffer? Physically? Emotionally? Spiritually?
Jesus came to heal the suffering. When we look at each of the types of suffering that he spoke about, it really speaks to the human condition. We all suffer from something. Is it hunger? Poverty? Illness? Self-esteem? Grief? Each one of us has suffered, to one degree or another. Jesus addresses all of them.
He did not come to help those who do not need it. Not to bring more abundance to the rich. Not to heal the healthy. Not to bring peace to the peaceful. The life of Jesus is a gift from God. He came to bring peace, he came to bring YOU hope of peace, healing, and abundance soon. How soon? God only knows.
Imagine that you have suffered so much that you lost all hope. You are at the end of your rope, literally and figuratively. This is rock bottom. Perhaps some of you have reached here. There is no way back up by yourself, because you lost it. Seriously, rock bottom.
The 12 step process to recovery is a spiritual path, relying on a higher power – we call that God – to give a lending hand up. To know that you are not in control. To believe in something that is outside your control. To trust.
Several months ago I had us look at any bill or coin in our wallet and find the words, In God We Trust. There, every day to remind us, that we must trust in God.
Jesus reminds us that remembering God is finding the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven. Finding this while we are still alive, so we can really live while we are here. Jesus reminds us that God has not left us. That God exists here in our heart, every moment of every day.
But we forget. Then woe is me! However, blessed is they who suffer and then remember. May we always remember that God has our back. We must remember to trust and relinquish control. Then we are the fortunate ones, the blessed ones.
You are sitting on some grass on the side of a mountain. You are surrounded by thousands of people who are all listening to the Messiah preach. You have been suffering, but now, you feel blessed, you feel beautifully holy. May it be so, Amen.
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