As we heard in last week’s Gospel reading, Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee with the continuation of John the Baptist’s proclamation - “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
It would perhaps make sense for such a proclamation to be accompanied by a list of specific entry requirements, or a detailed description of the dos and don’ts for being a loyal subject of such a kingdom.
But, instead, Jesus calls four fishermen to be his disciples - his closest students and followers - even though they don’t seem to have many qualifications for such a position. And then we hear that “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Word spread far and wide, and soon large crowds were following him, desperate for healing and relief from their various diseases and pains.
It is after this widespread experience of what it’s like when the kingdom of heaven comes near that Jesus gathers the crowds for a bit of explanation. We know the message of these chapters as the “Sermon on the Mount”, and will hear most of it over the next few weeks as the season of Epiphany continues to unfold.
What does Jesus preach and teach to those who have gathered on the mountainside? We’ll hear about salt and light, and about Jesus’ perspective on such challenging topics as adultery and divorce, retaliation and anger. We’ll hear about how things in the kingdom of God are not quite what we have come to expect from the day-to-day ways of the world.
Perfectly illustrating this sense of reversal, the way that Jesus’ sermon begins is not with a demand for goodness or a scolding litany of everything the people have done wrong. Instead, looking out from the mountain over the gathered crowd of the poor, and sick, and demon-possessed, Jesus declares blessing.
A blessing is a powerful thing. To receive a blessing is to be named, and seen, and honored. To receive a blessing is to receive an identity; to be included; to be wrapped in goodness - the very promises of God. To receive a blessing is to receive sustenance - a good word that strengthens us for what lies ahead.
For the disciples and the crowd gathered around Jesus on the mountain, these words of blessing likely caught them by surprise. I wonder if they expected to hear something like, Blessed are the wealthy, or blessed are the popular, or blessed are those with good health. After all, those are the kind of people the world calls blessed. Doesn’t being blessed look like having everything you need? Doesn’t it look like power, and prestige? Aren’t those signs that you’re doing something right? That you’re winning?
Perhaps. But things are different in the kingdom of heaven. In the kingdom of heaven, the ones who are blessed, or happy, or enviable are the ones the world loves to stomp on, or at least overlook. God sees, and names, and honors those who are just scraping by, those without hope or joy, those who are not content with the way things are, those who are ridiculed and scorned.
This is how things are in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus tells the crowds. And the kingdom of heaven? It starts right now.
In giving these blessings, Jesus paints a picture of a new reality, where God’s values, and not the world’s, reign. In giving these blessings, Jesus declares God’s presence with the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In giving these blessings, Jesus lifts up mercy, pure hearts, and peacemaking as traits that are honored and celebrated in the kingdom of heaven.
In giving these blessings, Jesus strengthens and equips the people for the work that lies ahead of them. It is work that is not easy - being reviled, encountering persecution, receiving all kinds of evil utterances - these experiences are almost guaranteed as the status quo always fights back against anything that threatens to loosen its grip on power. Yes, the status quo may be entrenched, but God is more powerful. The kingdom of heaven has come near in the person of Jesus, and it’s not going anywhere.
While blessings are sprinkled throughout our liturgy, the benediction that comes at the end of the service is perhaps the most prominent. We use different words at various times of the church year, but the gist is always the same. God sees you, and knows you, and calls you beloved. Have courage, take comfort - the work you are called to is challenging, and the way often seems bleak, but you are not alone.
I wonder if today you might pay special attention to those words. I wonder if you might feel them - feel God’s blessing and God’s presence wrapping around you. And, so wrapped in a blessing, I pray that it might provide comfort and strength as you face the challenges and discomforts and difficulties that will surround you in the week ahead. I pray that this blessing might be just the thing you need to hear as you go and share the good news of God’s love and blessing for all people, the good news of the kingdom of heaven.
It would perhaps make sense for such a proclamation to be accompanied by a list of specific entry requirements, or a detailed description of the dos and don’ts for being a loyal subject of such a kingdom.
But, instead, Jesus calls four fishermen to be his disciples - his closest students and followers - even though they don’t seem to have many qualifications for such a position. And then we hear that “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.” Word spread far and wide, and soon large crowds were following him, desperate for healing and relief from their various diseases and pains.
It is after this widespread experience of what it’s like when the kingdom of heaven comes near that Jesus gathers the crowds for a bit of explanation. We know the message of these chapters as the “Sermon on the Mount”, and will hear most of it over the next few weeks as the season of Epiphany continues to unfold.
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| Photo by Will Swann on Unsplash |
What does Jesus preach and teach to those who have gathered on the mountainside? We’ll hear about salt and light, and about Jesus’ perspective on such challenging topics as adultery and divorce, retaliation and anger. We’ll hear about how things in the kingdom of God are not quite what we have come to expect from the day-to-day ways of the world.
Perfectly illustrating this sense of reversal, the way that Jesus’ sermon begins is not with a demand for goodness or a scolding litany of everything the people have done wrong. Instead, looking out from the mountain over the gathered crowd of the poor, and sick, and demon-possessed, Jesus declares blessing.
A blessing is a powerful thing. To receive a blessing is to be named, and seen, and honored. To receive a blessing is to receive an identity; to be included; to be wrapped in goodness - the very promises of God. To receive a blessing is to receive sustenance - a good word that strengthens us for what lies ahead.
For the disciples and the crowd gathered around Jesus on the mountain, these words of blessing likely caught them by surprise. I wonder if they expected to hear something like, Blessed are the wealthy, or blessed are the popular, or blessed are those with good health. After all, those are the kind of people the world calls blessed. Doesn’t being blessed look like having everything you need? Doesn’t it look like power, and prestige? Aren’t those signs that you’re doing something right? That you’re winning?
Perhaps. But things are different in the kingdom of heaven. In the kingdom of heaven, the ones who are blessed, or happy, or enviable are the ones the world loves to stomp on, or at least overlook. God sees, and names, and honors those who are just scraping by, those without hope or joy, those who are not content with the way things are, those who are ridiculed and scorned.
This is how things are in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus tells the crowds. And the kingdom of heaven? It starts right now.
In giving these blessings, Jesus paints a picture of a new reality, where God’s values, and not the world’s, reign. In giving these blessings, Jesus declares God’s presence with the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In giving these blessings, Jesus lifts up mercy, pure hearts, and peacemaking as traits that are honored and celebrated in the kingdom of heaven.
In giving these blessings, Jesus strengthens and equips the people for the work that lies ahead of them. It is work that is not easy - being reviled, encountering persecution, receiving all kinds of evil utterances - these experiences are almost guaranteed as the status quo always fights back against anything that threatens to loosen its grip on power. Yes, the status quo may be entrenched, but God is more powerful. The kingdom of heaven has come near in the person of Jesus, and it’s not going anywhere.
While blessings are sprinkled throughout our liturgy, the benediction that comes at the end of the service is perhaps the most prominent. We use different words at various times of the church year, but the gist is always the same. God sees you, and knows you, and calls you beloved. Have courage, take comfort - the work you are called to is challenging, and the way often seems bleak, but you are not alone.
I wonder if today you might pay special attention to those words. I wonder if you might feel them - feel God’s blessing and God’s presence wrapping around you. And, so wrapped in a blessing, I pray that it might provide comfort and strength as you face the challenges and discomforts and difficulties that will surround you in the week ahead. I pray that this blessing might be just the thing you need to hear as you go and share the good news of God’s love and blessing for all people, the good news of the kingdom of heaven.
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