January 2023

Reflection

Last Friday, I was asked to step in to preach for a pastor who contracted COVID.  The text I had to preach on was Matthew 5:1-12.  It is the introductory section of the Sermon on the Mount, better known as The Beatitudes:

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you

What struck me when researching the text was the conversation through the centuries regarding how we are to read this. Often more conservative theologically see this as something that not all Christians can truly live out in their lives.  Only some Christians can do it. Essentially, these theologians end up creating two tiers of theologians.

But the more modern theologians I read stated something much more beautiful.  This is not a “to do” list or a set of rules to live by.  Instead, Jesus is painting a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven.  And we are called to live this out in community with one another.  Beautiful stuff.