I believe the world would be a better place
if those who would be followers of Christ,
took his words seriously.
When asked about commandments, Christians love
rules, and ways to rate people (even themselves)
Jesus said, “love God, and love others, and don’t forget, while you are at it, to love yourself”
Then he gave his Sermon on the Mount
There is no doubt in my mind that this event is meant to parallel Moses on Mt. Sinai
This is the new voice of God, giving the people the things they need to know
about how to live, with God, and with one another
Thus the beatitudes.
There are two versions. The one most people like, from Matthew 5
This lovely, cleaned up, spiritualized version is God’s new “code for living” for those who would live in such a way that they lift up their own lives, and lift up others. They are powerful, and challenging
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 righteousness' sake, 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.
Would that not be a lovely way to live? Ok, there is some cost in there. Not everyone will get it. Some will resent you. Some will use power against you. But still. there is much to be said for being humble, and open, generous, forgiving, a lover of justice.
But let us not forget Luke’s version. These are the Beatitudes for the oppressed. For the marginalized, the minimized. The abused and neglected. The immigrant and the homeless person. The transgender person who is told they really don’t exist. The poor person is who called a lazy moocher.
20 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. (Luke 6)
21 "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 "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.
26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
These beatitudes are raw, and even more challenging in many ways than Matthew’s. They are a promise. Of how life will be in the Kingdom. But they are an in your face challenge to those who have power and affluence. For the in the woes is the implication that it is not a good thing, if those who have all and more than they need, and are full, and happy, and adored, do not help make the blessings happen in the lives of the suffering.
We need both sets. We will not see the promise Luke’s Beatitudes come to fruition, if we do not live out Matthew’s. It is as we see the pain of others, and grieve, it is as we search for justice and equity (yes that is all in the Beatitudes), that we ease the pain of the world.
All of this brings me to the point of today’s missive.
Today is the anniversary of the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.
He is a person who, however imperfectly, sought to live out the way the Beatitudes. And our nation was changed, for the better. I would like to have say our nation was changed forever. And in a sense that is true. But it is also true that the powerful forces of greed, and prejudice have once again shown up. We see it everywhere. In the Presidential campaign. In the legislation passed by some state legislatures. We see it in signs of exclusion posted in business windows. We see it in churches. Women, the poor, the LGBT community, Muslims.
People are being judged, excluded, minimized, oppressed, shamed, and abused, sometimes in the name of God
I can think of no better way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. then to make a commitment to be an adherent of the Beatitudes (Matthew’s) that I might help be a small part of the way the promise of Luke’s Beatitudes become real!
Please join me!
if those who would be followers of Christ,
took his words seriously.
When asked about commandments, Christians love
rules, and ways to rate people (even themselves)
Jesus said, “love God, and love others, and don’t forget, while you are at it, to love yourself”
Then he gave his Sermon on the Mount
There is no doubt in my mind that this event is meant to parallel Moses on Mt. Sinai
This is the new voice of God, giving the people the things they need to know
about how to live, with God, and with one another
Thus the beatitudes.
There are two versions. The one most people like, from Matthew 5
This lovely, cleaned up, spiritualized version is God’s new “code for living” for those who would live in such a way that they lift up their own lives, and lift up others. They are powerful, and challenging
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 righteousness' sake, 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.
Would that not be a lovely way to live? Ok, there is some cost in there. Not everyone will get it. Some will resent you. Some will use power against you. But still. there is much to be said for being humble, and open, generous, forgiving, a lover of justice.
But let us not forget Luke’s version. These are the Beatitudes for the oppressed. For the marginalized, the minimized. The abused and neglected. The immigrant and the homeless person. The transgender person who is told they really don’t exist. The poor person is who called a lazy moocher.
20 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. (Luke 6)
21 "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 "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.
26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
These beatitudes are raw, and even more challenging in many ways than Matthew’s. They are a promise. Of how life will be in the Kingdom. But they are an in your face challenge to those who have power and affluence. For the in the woes is the implication that it is not a good thing, if those who have all and more than they need, and are full, and happy, and adored, do not help make the blessings happen in the lives of the suffering.
We need both sets. We will not see the promise Luke’s Beatitudes come to fruition, if we do not live out Matthew’s. It is as we see the pain of others, and grieve, it is as we search for justice and equity (yes that is all in the Beatitudes), that we ease the pain of the world.
All of this brings me to the point of today’s missive.
Today is the anniversary of the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.
He is a person who, however imperfectly, sought to live out the way the Beatitudes. And our nation was changed, for the better. I would like to have say our nation was changed forever. And in a sense that is true. But it is also true that the powerful forces of greed, and prejudice have once again shown up. We see it everywhere. In the Presidential campaign. In the legislation passed by some state legislatures. We see it in signs of exclusion posted in business windows. We see it in churches. Women, the poor, the LGBT community, Muslims.
People are being judged, excluded, minimized, oppressed, shamed, and abused, sometimes in the name of God
I can think of no better way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. then to make a commitment to be an adherent of the Beatitudes (Matthew’s) that I might help be a small part of the way the promise of Luke’s Beatitudes become real!
Please join me!
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