O By The Way

I have been preaching over the past several weeks on the Beatitudes of Jesus, one version of which is found in Matthew 5.   They are the opening introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, either one teaching he presented on one day or, more likely, a compendium of many messages he proclaimed over his three years of open ministry.  In either case, the sermon comprises the fullest and most thoughtful and concise presentation of life in the kingdom of God we have ever seen.  Every sentence, thought and parable is chock full of wisdom and deep insight about life as God made it to be.  And the first twelve verses, known as the Beatitudes, set us up for what is coming.

But it all seems so backwards, upside down, inside out compared to the life we know in the twenty-first century.  I suppose that is why we must spend time looking at what these words are all about.  I have not preached with this much focus on each beatitude ever in my years of preaching.  They are worth the look! 

Jesus begins each one with the word “blessed.”  It is a hard word to carry over into English without some explanation.  It is sometimes translated “happy,” but that leaves us short of its true meaning.  He means to impart a godlike joy to the recipients, a setting on the right path that can only bring deep fulfillment in life.  And we see the pure grace of God when we see who he includes for this blessing, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek and even those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  They are blessed with the “kingdom of heaven,”  “comfort,” an inheritance “of the earth,” and  a satisfied, full life.  We were taught the victorious, the exuberant, the assertive and, at the least, those who did good and righteous things, they were the ones who came out on top. 

Jesus comes at life from another direction and comes up with a newly creative approach to how we experience God’s blessing.  By the way, the Beatitudes have many times been preached and taught as commands about life.  As if to say, live poor in spirit, in mourning while living in meekness.  And above all be righteous in all you do.  But that is not what he seems to say.  I have thought, we don’t have to try and be that way.  Life will find us poor in spirit, broken hearted and defeated, hungry for righteousness.  It is these whom he blesses. The composite of those states leaves us hungry for putting things right and wanting to see renewal and he is there with his blessing for all those who find themselves in those hard places.  Quite a text, even if it seems upside down!

This Memorial Day weekend, may we all remember to give thanks to God for his goodness and his faithfulness to us.  Let it be gratitude which remembers all those who have shared life with us, particularly those who have given their lives for us.  Seems to me the greatest gift anyone can offer is his or her life for another.  Jesus is the supreme example, and his life and gift is unique.  But this weekend we thank God for those who made the supreme sacrifice that our life might be lived in freedom.  Enjoy the holiday, and remember.