A Lenten Reading of Matthew - Day Six

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-20 (NRSVUE)

This is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount which goes through chapter seven.  Matthew provides this material of Jesus' teaching that isn't found in Mark (which Matthew is patterned after).  Luke has similar (but shorter) material in the Sermon on the Plain contained in 6:17-49. 

As we begin with the Beatitudes, we begin to see a teaching that varies from the common wisdom of the day.  

Common wisdom believed that God rewarded the faithful within this lifetime through easily identifiable blessings such as long-life, general good health, many children, and plenty of food and resources.  Accidents didn't just occur but were rather judgments on a person for something bad they had done.  

The Hebrew Bible has many verses from Proverbs and other places that seem to favor this view.  But it also contains other wisdom literature such as Ecclesiastes or Job as well as many of the prophets that challenge the simplicity of this theology.  Jesus seems to be shaped more by the latter than the former.

As Christians, we are called to a more complex faith.  We are called to humility and compassion through the Beatitudes.  And we understand that through the lens of Christ, we find the scriptures fulfilled.  

Which one is blessed?

We see the term righteousness used three times within today's reading.  As we remember from chapter one, the idea of being righteous would have referred to being a parent or advocate for the outsider or person in need.  To be righteous means that one doesn't observe a poor person and declare, "You must have done something awful to deserve this!  Who am I to go against God's judgment by helping you?"

This isn't meek, merciful or pure in heart.  

Rather, a righteous person would seek to help.  Evidently, Jesus observed scribes and Pharisees with the more simplistic theology because he says that our righteousness must exceed theirs.

To be blessed, we must hunger and thirst for things to be set right for all people.  We must be willing to endure persecution for it.  

Where do we see these values being exemplified today?  If they seem in short supply, how might we be called to live them out as an example of good news for the world?  Today, I would invite you to pick one of the Beatitudes and periodically pray on it that you might understand it for your life and reflect it in your actions.

Prayer for the day:

Vulnerable God,
you challenge the powers that rule this world
though the needy, the compassionate,
and those who are filled with longing.
Make us hunger and thirst to see right prevail,
and single-minded in seeking peace;
that we may see your face
and be satisfied in you,
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer by Janet Morley, England, 20th Century

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Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 38 Maundy Thursday

“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 how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

                                                Luke 6:24-26 (NRSVue)

Luke's Gospel is the only one to feature these counter-statements to the Beatitudes.  Matthew tended to spiritualize the sayings (i.e. blessed are the poor in spirit) while Luke was more basic in the characterizing.

What does it mean that Jesus gives these woes?

The Common English Bible translates it as "how terrible for you..." rather than woe.  "Woe" does seem to be a bit archaic in that we don't use it very often in everyday speech.  The Scholar's Version which was made up of Jesus Seminar New Testament professors use the phrase "Damn you" instead of woe in that they wanted to get the intensity of Jesus to come across.  Saying them as a curse is truly opposite of saying them as a blessing.

As I consider my own life, I am not doing very well with regards to today's woes:

I am more well-off financially than the majority of the people in the world.

I am full to the point of needing to shed a few pounds.

I laugh more than I weep.

People do speak well of me (at least to my face).

Maybe this is what Jesus means.

Today, being Maundy Thursday, we also remember the Last Supper.  In Holy Communion, we recognize our need for God's grace.  We confess our sins prior to the meal and hopefully, we take our brokenness seriously.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer labeled Communion without confession as "cheap grace" in his landmark book, The Cost of Discipleship.

When I am woeful to the point of having all of these characteristics, maybe this makes it harder to confess my own brokenness.  When we are well-off, the need for God may not seem as urgent.  So we are more likely to imagine ourselves as self-sufficient.  

I don't believe that we need to apologize if we share in any of today's attributes as some of the Puritans may have done.  I believe that God would like a strong, full life for all people on earth.   But it may be that we need to determine if our wealth is at the expense of someone else's well-being.  Do I find it easy to forget the hunger in my own community?  Am I laughing with or at the object of my mirth?  And is my status of favor with others in conflict with God's role for my life?

These are difficult Lenten questions making this text appropriate for today.  I invite you to linger on them a bit and if you find the opportunity to take Holy Communion, pray on these questions at the kneeling rail.

Prayer for the day:  God, you have given us your word to bring us life.  May we receive it in a way that honors you and our neighbors.  May we also receive it in a way that honors ourselves.  As we remember this night in the life of our Lord, we also remember that this was when he washed our feet.  He then bid us to go forth and do likewise for the world.  May we take the love we have received and pass it along generously.  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 37

“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 how their ancestors treated the prophets."

                                        Luke 6:22-23 (NRSVue)

This sounds like a good part of my time as a district superintendent during disaffiliation.  There were certain people in authority who were clearly leading others away from The United Methodist Church - some laity and some clergy.  In a denomination as large as ours, outliers can be found on just about any topic and these were often lifted up as normative in order to move people against our church.  

I don't mind healthy discussion but when people have been riled up - it often degrades into slander and harmful rhetoric.  I made the comment (many times), "I am tired of trying to convince people to uphold the vows they took."

I had many people - United Methodists that stayed included - who told me to just let them go.  Why fight it?  I will say that I handled different churches differently.  I would go and present The United Methodist witness and answer questions to the best of my ability.  But where I perceived that it was over 90% in agreement, I didn't stand in the way.  Where there was a significant United Methodist presence that wanted to keep their church, I felt in these instances that I either became their pastor or had to stand in support of the pastor who was trying to hold their church together. 

In these instances, I received hateful words, exclusionary words, reviling words and defaming words.  I was painted in a public court of law as a tyrant who did not order the church fairly.  I felt derision by former church members that I worked with, conducted funerals for family members, and aided personally in moments of natural disaster.  I did not feel blessed but I did feel that I stood in this path for the sake of the Son of Man.

The difficulty of this is when we realize that those seeking to leave - and even those doing the reviling - were also doing so out of a faith position.  Most had a sense of righteousness around the issue of human sexuality that differed from mine.  I believe that many felt persecuted by my wielding authority in a way that tried to call them into accountability.  They likely saw it as an abuse of power.  I recently made the quip at a public gathering that I put the grace into gracious exit.  It got some laughs which indicates that people recognized my difficulty of trying to hold accountability among people who saw things very differently.

As we continue in Holy Week, one thing that's helpful for us to recognize is that our persecutions are not in the same league with what Jesus faced.  It doesn't compare to the way the early disciples were treated.  It wouldn't even be a blip on the radar for how the early church fared against the various government harassment, restrictions and arrests.   

Sometimes we have to stand up for the faith.  My faith begins with loving God and loving neighbor.  I want to do this in a way that provides respect to all.  But I will also ask for the same consideration and when I am in a place of power and authority, I will expect it. 

And while it doesn't feel blessed to do so, it is helpful to see how Jesus considers blessing in the Sermon on the Plain: poor, hungry, weeping.  Hated and reviled.

The outsider is lifted up by God.

I can rest in that.

I will continue to stand for the outsiders and am in solidarity with them.

Prayer for the day:  God, I must confess that I don't want to be hated or reviled.  I would just like to get along with others.  But when we give a voice to the voiceless, people may begin to exclude us as well.  It is easier to let things go.  It is easier to go with the flow and say nothing.  But you call us to be disciples.  Help us to walk this week with Jesus even though we know where he is going.  Give us the strength to carry his cross for a bit.  For Jesus' sake we pray.  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 8

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

                                                                        Matthew 5:10-12 (NRSVue)

 

Assuming you're not currently in a bad relationship, the easiest way to avoid persecution in the future would be to never pose any changes.

One of the main rules of systems theory is that systems resist change.  And of course, any relationship is a system of people interacting.  Most systems exert pressure on the individuals to get back in line - the pressure may be subtle or overt.  

Think about a family with a functioning alcoholic.  Is it easier to confront the person about their drinking or is it easier to say nothing?  Most families will continue to function as is until a breaking point comes and disrupts the system.

The right thing may be to identify the issue before the breaking point occurs but you are likely to be persecuted for the sake this righteousness.  You may even be labeled as self-righteous.

Can we stand in the midst of the persecution that is to come?  Thinking about this may keep us quiet.

From an organization standpoint, I like the Ronald Heifetz quote, "Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb."

This is due to the idea that introducing change (even positive changes) will likely be difficult for people to embrace.  Edwin Friedman tells us to expect sabotage when we seek to introduce health to a difficult situation.

As we look at who is saying these words, Jesus is being rather prophetic.  He may have been building to this because of all the reversals he was proclaiming in the beatitudes themselves.  

What did Jesus actually do that would get him crucified?

Author Douglas Adams suggests that it was for "saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change."  This is an exaggeration to an extent but maybe it is also basically true.

What does it mean to ask the community at large to respect people who are currently disrespected as a whole?

Alexei Navalny's recent death in Russian prison reminds us that political persecution is real.

Martin Luther King, Jr. ran up against all kinds of resistance during the Civil Rights movement.  On the day before his assassination, King stated in a speech, "I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land."

He may have also seen his own death coming but he continued to offer hope.  

As we move through Lent, may we find the courage to offer needed change to the systems we find ourselves in - and to maintain our stance even when there is resistance.

Prayer for the Day: Mighty Savior, you offered yourself to the world in so many ways.  We grieve the fact that people in power chose to reject you in the most extreme way possible.  But we also remember that death does not have the final say.  Help us to follow you even when it is difficult.  And when we falter along the way, pick us up, dust us off and walk with us along the path you would have us go.  We pray this in Christ together.  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 7

 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

                                                Matthew 5:9 (NRSVue)

 

When Jesus first uttered these words, it was in the midst of the Pax Romana or Roman Peace.  This term was not in use at the time of Jesus but the emperors did call themselves peacemakers.  Others may have called them this with the same sardonic tone that one today would call a handgun a peacemaker.  

It is also interesting to note that the emperors also called themselves "sons of God."

The Judeans also often referred to the anticipated messiah as the Son of God.   The messiah would be a war-maker, violently throwing off foreign rule.

Jesus begins to show that the messiah would be something different than expected.  Those who wage peace are the true heirs of God's blessing.  This kinship to God as God's children is shared not only by the messiah but also with those who pursue peace for the world and their lives.  The kinship Jesus establishes with those who are willing to act is later reflected in Matthew 12:50 when he states, "...whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

One could argue that the beatitudes are building on one another.  To be a peacemaker requires humility and a pure spirit.  It also requires mercy.

What if we imagined peacemaking as doing rescue work?

When Nelson Mandela led South Africa out of apartheid, he made a conscious effort not to fall into the trap of punishing those who were formerly in power.  This attempt at peacemaking required mercy on the part of those who were crying out for justice.  Peace meant a sacrifice in order to move forward.

As we see this on a larger scale, we can also see that the same conditions apply to a family system.  When we have been wronged, the pursuit of those crying for us to quickly make up may come too soon.  We may feel that some form of restitution (as an apology) is needed.  

What if it doesn't come?  

This is how relationships are cut-off.  In order to make the repair, it is often said that the injured must be the bigger person in the relationship. 

But many times our pride will not allow it.  And so we continue in strife or at least without that person in our lives.  

As we move through Lent, what would it take for you to step up as a peacemaker?  

We may find the blessing is in the release of our anger.  Jesus seems to indicate that this is how we remind ourselves who are really are: children of God. 

Prayer for the day: Ever-present Lord, you direct us to things that may seem too much for us.  We are merely human, after all.  We confess that we often nurture the harms done to us, even though they are not helpful to our spirits.  In these moments, being a peacemaker may seem impossible.  But we also believe that you do not leave us alone to this work.  Strengthen our resolve and let us see that we are large enough to repair relationships.  Remind us that with you, we are bigger than we could ever be as lone rangers.  We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, who calls disciples to share in the work.  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 6

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

                                 Matthew 5:8 (NRSVue) 

It is important to remember that Jesus preached these words in the midst of occupied Judea.  The Jewish leadership would have capitulated either overtly or subtly with the Roman rulers simply because they were allowed to operate.  Those who didn't play were removed.

This would allow the common people to question the motives of their leadership.

Would this leadership be seen as pure in heart or would they be seen as having ulterior motives?

Jesus likely took this from Psalm 73 which starts out with God being good (blessing?) to the pure in heart.  It goes on to disparage the wicked who are prosperous.  It is also confessional for the psalmist who admits to getting it wrong as much as anyone.  It ends with life coming from a nearness to God.

I think this is important in that in every age, it seems that we question the motives of our leadership.  As we move through an election year that may prove to be more divisive than anything we've seen in our lifetime, leadership becomes an easy target.  

Ironically, to be pure in heart may require us to look more inwardly at ourselves as per Psalm 73 than outwardly toward our neighbor (leader).

While often, we may think of seeing God in the beneficial actions of our neighbors, in this instance, it may be that we find God through our own self-examination.  God is present with us in the forgiveness we receive in repentance.  God is present with us when we can admit that we need to repent in the first place!

In an age where blame is widely cast and the buck never stops, this may be a discipline that helps us to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Pure in heart may not be a state of being as much as a willingness to acknowledge that we need God's help.

As we move through the Lenten season, where may you need to re-examine your life in your assumption that you have it all together?

Prayer for the day: Loving God, we remember that Jesus once said that "only God is good."  We would seek to be pure in heart, but this may really just be an acknowledgement that we have far to go.  Help us to see ourselves honestly.  Let us be gracious in our reckoning just as you are gracious to us.  But let us also not be complacent, understanding that we can do better.  Finally, let us see you in the midst of our lives - that you don't abandon us to the work of improvement but rather strengthen us on our way.  We pray these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 5

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

                                     Matthew 5:7 (NRSVue)

 

The 23rd psalm is well known among the devout and is utilized at many funerals.  The psalm puts our trust in God and gives us assurance of God's preceding grace pursuing us throughout our lives.

The final verse begins, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."

This is a statement of faith and something hoped for - an outcome that would be favorable to us.

It's easier to forgive when someone shows remorse.

But today's beatitude sees mercy as a consequence of our own actions.  It feels a bit like karma and is similar to what I lifted up recently in the Lord's Prayer about "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

A similar but negative thought from Job 4:8 has Eliphaz declaring, "As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same."

Paul later echoes this (after the Sermon on the Mount) in Galatians 6:7, "...you reap whatever you sow."  Paul goes on to a more positive take, bidding us not to grow weary of doing what is right.

What does it mean to cultivate a life of mercy?

How do we shape our own spirits when we seek to forgive? 

I've seen those who are more judgmental of others taking a harder fall when they eventually slip up (or their own failings become known).  Those who are more forgiving are judged with more tolerance.

This characteristic can become a discipline - the more we show mercy, the easier it becomes.  The reversal may also be true.

I'm reminded of the fable of the man visited by God and told that he would receive anything he asked for.  The only caveat would be that his neighbor, whom he despised, would receive a double portion of the request.  The man then told God, "Make me blind in one eye."

Bitterness does not sow life.  

As we move through Lent, is there anyone you can think of where you could see yourself having the same response as the man from the fable - even for a second?  In this moment, what would it look like to make an attempt in your heart at mercy?

Prayer for the day: Merciful God, I must confess that I often seek forgiveness for myself but do not always grant my neighbor the same regard.  I'm more satisfied with justice where they are concerned.  Give me eyes to see how they see and then grant me eyes to see how you see.  And only then, bring me back to my seat of judgment.  I pray these things in the name of Jesus who uttered from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing."  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 4

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

                                               Matthew 5:6 (NRSVue)

The original Greek word translated as "righteousness" is dikaiosune, which can also be translated as God's approval or divine justice.  This expanded definition gives us a better sense that our human desire should be that for which God wants for the world.  

We have a sense of this when we pray in the Lord's prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." which Jesus will pick up later in the Sermon on the Mount.

This allows all of us to be theologians when we begin to ask, "What does righteousness and specifically, God's approval or justice, really look like?

Or in other words, if God's kingdom did come upon the earth like it is in heaven, what would that look like?

In Matthew's Gospel, we see this vision come to fruition in chapter 25 with the imagery of the sheep and the goats.  God's kingdom in this context looks like the hungry being fed, the thirsty being given something to drink, the strangers finding welcome, the naked clothed, the sick cared for and the prisoner visited.

When I think of this beatitude in the (relatively) modern era, I think of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  His work toward civil rights was a hunger and thirst for righteousness, was it not?

He saw this work as God's work.

His famous quote of "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice" is sometimes critiqued as naive in that it could be interpreted that we'll get there without any work on our part.  I would say that those who hold this view are taking the quote completely out of the context of Dr. King's life and work.  In fact, he constantly called upon human beings of a wide range of cultures and resources to get on board with the needed changes in our country.  

Rather, I think this quote is a faith statement.  It says that God has an ultimate design for us.  It says that God does not abandon us to do it on our own.  It says that God will walk with us on this long, long road.

It also acknowledges that we may not see it come to fruition in our lifetimes.  

But when God is working with us, the work is fulfilling even if at times frustrating.

As we move through Lent, which piece of God's kingdom, do you hunger and thirst for most?

Prayer for the day:  God, help us to stand firm in our convictions for compassion and justice for all of your children in the world today.  May we find that as we seek to share the love of Jesus tangibly, that it flows through us naturally because of our relationship with you.  And at the end of the day, may we realize that as we gaze at the world around us, we are very full indeed.  We pray this in Jesus' name.  Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 3

 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

                                                Matthew 5:5 (NRSVue) 

This is obviously another reversal by Jesus because the meek were usually ignored (at best) in the ancient world and I'm not sure this is much different today.

The NRSV doesn't change much from the King James Version besides using "will" instead of "shall".  I prefer the Common English Bible's use of "humble" rather than "meek" in that humble is more widely used today.

In the common vernacular, meek may imply doormat which would really be a reversal.  Of course, this could have been the image that Jesus was going for.  It is difficult for us to get a handle on.

Oh, the irony of this graffiti!

I'm reminded of the Sermon on the Mount scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian where those on the fringes can't hear very well.  They start arguing with one another and almost get into a fist fight which is the perfect juxtaposition to Jesus stating "blessed are the meek..."

Those arguing and fighting are not only missing the point but they are angry with one another and definitely not blessed.  This scene could be a referendum on American society as a whole today.

It seems that we reward aggressiveness today much more quickly than humility.  But I've discovered that those with true power and authority who aren't self-centered or insecure don't need to demean or step on others through life.  

I'm reminded of the story of Chuck Norris who was bullied into moving seats at a local dive.  He left without a word and when the bully realized that he was messing with a martial arts expert, he apologized to Chuck.  He asked Chuck why he didn't beat him up and Chuck responded with, "What would that prove?"

Maybe this beatitude shows me that I should think and take a breath before I get upset.  This morning on my drive to work, I was trying to let a car onto the highway and he was trying to let me go ahead of him.  We both kept going slower and slower.  Then we each became frustrated and made a face toward the other because we each wanted to be the polite one!

He sped away through traffic and I just laughed at the the ridiculousness of the situation!

This beatitude is going to take some more reflection...

Prayer for the day: Loving God, we give thanks that you provide for us.  Help us to trust in you and look inwardly before we turn up the heat with others.  Let us see more things as small or even insignificant rather than getting upset or offended.  And may we share this inheritance rather than hoard it.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

 

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 2

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

                                    Matthew 5:4 (NRSVue)

One of the things that is a constant for people is that things continue to change.  This might be why we look back on earlier periods of our life with nostalgia.  Compared to what we are dealing with today, we imagine that we had a better handle on who we were then - or at least what we had to face.

All change results in grief and loss - and of course, some changes are more significant than others.

As people get older, another constant is that we begin to outlive our relatives.  The older generations pass away and we attend their funerals and mourn their passing.  Younger generations may begin to look at us as if we're next!  

We're not sure what happened to Jesus' earthly father, Joseph.  It is likely that he died.  How would this have effected Jesus?  I'm sure that he was grateful to have him in his life for the time he did. 

Within my lifetime, I have lost my four grandparents and both of my parents.  I was only nine years old when my Grandpa Powers passed away.  He loved to fish and I can remember him scaling the fish out in the yard.  The neighbor's cat would hang around when he did this!  He had a good sense of humor and liked to find the joy in life.  

I mourned his passing but not like my father did.  It was a more significant loss for him and difficult to comprehend until he too died and I realized what it was to lose a dad.

I haven't felt very blessed when I've been struck with grief in my life.  But I have felt blessed to have loved the people in my life who have touched me significantly.  I think most people understand that the deeper the love for someone, the harder the grief hits us.  

But as we recognize our deep grief, maybe we can also recognize that the larger relationship was a blessing to us.  This can be a comfort and a peace.  And we realize that when we mourn, we have been blessed.

Maybe we should seek to recognize this in our relationships while the people are still living!

Prayer for the day: God, help us in our times of grief and mourning.  Comfort us with your peace and let it pass our understanding.  Guide us to celebrate this life with those we love and help us to love more widely even knowing that mourning may eventually result.  We pray these things in the name of Jesus who understands our loss.  Amen.

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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2024, Day 1 Ash Wednesday

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

                       Matthew 5:1-3 (NRSVue)

Matthew records Jesus teaching this sermon on the mountain while Luke records it being preached on a level place.  Matthew wrote his gospel to a Christian community that was birthed out of Judaism.  The adherents to the faith would have been raised in the Jewish tradition and so Matthew uses a lot of soft comparisons of Jesus with Moses.  Just as Moses receives the 10 Commandments on a mountain, Jesus gives the beatitudes on one as well.

The first blessing shows that the poor in spirit inherit the kingdom of heaven.  

This child probably doesn't feel blessed.

I was always confused by this as a child in that it reminded me of a poor sport which I knew wasn't a good attribute.  The Common English Bible translates it as hopeless which is a little better than poor sport but it is still pretty negative.

How can someone without hope - poor in spirit - receive the kingdom of heaven?

This is one of the reversals of Jesus' teaching that is so common in his parables.  Normally, people in Jesus' day that had it all together were thought to have God's blessing.   I would say that even though we know better, a large majority people operate as if those who have it all together have been blessed by God.

The opposite conclusion of this thinking is that some people who are living in difficult circumstances are somehow cursed by God.  I think that the beatitudes are trying to reverse this philosophy.  

The hope we retain from this is that even in the midst of tragedy, God remains with us.  This reminds me of the Mark Miller (a good United Methodist) song, "I Believe" which states, "I believe in love even when I don't feel it."

How do we share with people that God is with them even when bad things are happening?

I believe that the Christian ethic is to step up and be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today.  Because every human being has experienced doubt in the midst of pain, we can offer faith and light in the midst of darkness.

Prayer for the day: 

Gracious God, we believe that you love all the children of the world.  But we also realize that not all children feel love or even security.  As we encounter people in the world, remind us that each person is somebody's child.  And as we increase our faith, may we also recognize you are this "somebody."  May we be a witness to your love to someone today so that your blessing may be true.  Amen.

Photo by UnknownNet Photography via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Devotions for Lent 2024

As we approach another season of Lent, I have decided to once again embrace the discipline of journaling my thoughts through this blog as reflections on scripture.  In the past, I have chosen a book of the Bible to read through but this year, I've decided to do a deeper dive into the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain.

This material is found in the Gospels, specifically, Matthew for the former and Luke for the latter.

The Sermon on the Mount is longer and covers chapters five through seven of Matthew's Gospel while the Sermon on the Plain is shorter, documented in Luke 6:20-49.

I will begin posting these devotions to the blog on Ash Wednesday and they will post in the early hours of the morning around 3 am in case there are any who rise early and wish to begin their day with the reading and devotion as their Lenten discipline.  And just to be clear, I do schedule these to post - I'm not up at this hour!

I will also post these to my Facebook and X social media accounts in case you prefer to comment and engage with a larger community.  Of course, you may also leave comments on this blog but that has never had the traction or responses of the social media platforms.

I will be utilizing the text from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition found on biblegateway.com but there are many translations available here and you may wish to look at more than one since the readings will be shorter.  

These will post for the 40 days of Lent (I won't post on the six Sundays of Lent) ending with a final post for Easter Sunday on March 31.  If you haven't decided on a Lenten discipline this year, I would invite you to read along with me through this important material.  It may be that you would also like to set a discipline of commenting with your own thoughts about where the material took you as well!

And of course, if you would like to share the blog on social media, this helps distribute it to a wider audience.

I pray that your Lenten season is contemplative and fruitful for your spiritual growth in Christ!

Photo by George Bannister via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.