Nov 23 2008
The Beatitudes
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Preached by Winton Boyd on November 23, 2008
These blessings come at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, at the beginning of his Sermon on the Mount. They are the “opening slide” of his PowerPoint. They are the statement of purpose, the vision, the broad stroke. He utters these before he talks specifics about behaviors, gives instructions, before the idea of obedience or disobedience is introduced, before he tells stories like the Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan and workers in the field that we have read recently in worship.
As an early teaching, they also come at a point when he was already facing the challenge of the Pharisees, with their twisting of the Law and their works-oriented theology that said that ‘getting right’ with God involved a series of specific outward actions which could actually be kept.
As a teaching, they seem to indicate – to the gathered disciples – “this is where I am going with my teaching. As you follow me, and as I teach the masses and confront the Pharisees, this is where we will end up. To follow me will be fraught with danger. But, from these blessings will flow a life of teaching, community, struggle, love. These pictures that I am painting for you represent my best hope for you. From this foundation will flow actions rooted in love, behavior guided by God’s justice, opportunities in which you will display courage.’ I invite you to see spirituality as most alive in those places in our lives and in our culture that appear to be most vulnerable, most despised, most difficult.”
Each of the beatitudes has to do with dying to self. Poverty of spirit, the foundation of the beatitudes, is the ongoing process of dying to self, not out of self-hatred or a collapse of self-esteem, but because there is no other way to love God and neighbor. (Jim Forest)
Our reading the gospel today is always laced with the question – does this still have any meaning for our time. For those who have ears to hear, the gospel speaks powerfully to our priorities and our spiritual orientation.
These are among Jesus’ most beloved “word pictures.” As we listen to them again, this time in 2 different versions, I invite you to let your mind wander to those people who embody and symbolize these blessings of our faith. As we do so, I invite us to consider whether these blessings might be able to call for OUR best selves…
Let’s read them again in two versions
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God …
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted
You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth
Blessed are those that walk lightly on the earth and with others
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled
Blessed are those who live with passion, yearning, thirst for God; from this flows justice and righteousness
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy
Blessed are we as withhold judgment and instead offer care, for in time that care will come back to us in our time of need.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God
Blessed are you when you open your heart to others, for in doing so you incarnate God to one another
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God
Blessed are you who understand that peace – at all levels – is a worthy goal, for you shall know the joy of being human in a global world.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake,
Blessed are you who believe in something enough to take opposition and to live with courage, for you are beginning to see the realm of God.
The 4th century desert mothers and fathers, faithful Christians who moved to the desert to escape the distortions of their Empire and Church—found the Beatitudes to be “windows into a new world where love of God and neighbor is possible.”
Might not those who embody these blessings be a window for us to see the world where the love of God and neighbor are possible?
For example, who embodies peace, and in so doing gives you a glimpse of God’s realm? One person I see is Rose Tillman. I met Rose while taking one of my first courses of seminary; she was what could be called a renegade Catholic sister. Through humorous poetry and writing she quietly rebelled against what she believed to be the remarkable audacity of the Roman church to forbid women to become priests. She also acted in Christian charity in simple and direct ways. She open the Peace House- place of worship and conversation for homeless folks on Franklin Ave. in Mpls. When she opened the Center 20 some years ago or so, she encountered great resistance from neighborhing businesses and residents, who said she would bring “unwanted elements” to their environs. Rose was simply trying to proclaim God’s love for those most neglected in our urban centers – homeless men and women, many of whom suffer from mental illness. She also provided a place for others to come and join her in offering a peaceful place. Folks would bring music, art, conversation and their simple, caring presence. It was a very humble place, run on a shoestring budget by a humble but faithful woman. In the face of all sorts of threats and challenges, Rose remained clear that it is a God of compassion, justice, and mercy that she serves. Her strength comes not from social acceptance, but from the God who was with her for her 80_+ years of life.
What I know about Rose, who is now deceased, is that her purpose in opening the Peace house was not to suggest everyone need to do what she did. It was to suggest that a life of peaceful encounters and endeavors is a life worth living. Many of the people who passed through that shabby center came away with a deeper commitment to peace in their day-to-day life, inspired as they were by this single woman’s efforts.
How about those who embody the beatitude, Blessed are they that mourn? One of the people I see is a dear friend Bruce Fisher. Ironically, I also met Bruce when he was in his eighties. He had recently lost his wife of decades and suddenly faced the world alone in a way he had never known. Bruce was honest with his grief, but also allowed the ache and emptiness of losing a life partner to open him up to new people, to a new sense of community, to new ways of interacting. He would join men in their 30’s and 40’s on a men’s retreat (We were kind enough to give him a bed and not make him sleep on the floor as others did!), he took part in vibrant discussions of faith and life, he began a one man campaign to encourage others in the church to right out their own “statement of faith.” It took me a while to realize that the only Bruce I knew – this deeply open hearted, caring, engaging and community minded man with a curious mind and a deep appreciation for new friends – was NOT the only Bruce others knew. Prior to his deep grief he had been much more reserved, private and intellectual. He was not seen as an engaging man but as a distant, if bright, academic.
It took me a while to realize that it was his own grief and loss that served as the impetus for a transformation in his life.
I said it was ironic that these two people who come to mind were octogenarians when I met them. I think as I look back, I realize that when I met them my understanding of Christianity seemed to be rooted in right ideas, fancy words, and core beliefs. I don’t know if it was age, religious background, personality flaws that caused me to organize faith that way, but these folks were among the many who began to show me that faith is not about ideas as much as it is about life; not about dogma as much as relationships. I have come to love these beatitudes because while they lay forth a vision of the Christian faith that frankly is challenging and at times overwhelming in its demands, they speak to the power of community, the power of lives lived for God, the power of God’s spirit to mold us into our best selves. They provide inspiration that is attainable because if Rose, Bruce and all the others who embody these in our lives can work through the muck and mud of their lives to find grace, joy and power – so can we.
It is not an accident that in the lectoniary cycle of scripture readings, this passage is often read on All Saints Day. As we move into a time of prayer, I would invite you to bring to mind those people – alive and deceased – who serve as inspiration and witness in your life. Give thanks to God for them. Ask God for the mold you also into your best, most loving, most engaging and alive self.
Let us pray…
Amen
Matthew 5:1-12 (King James Version)
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
