The Introduction
The Sermon on the Mount is the most recognised passage of the gospel. Matthew’s gospel pictures Jesus on a hillside preaching. Luke tells us Jesus delivered this famous sermon on a plain. Does it matter whether this is the Sermon on the Mount or the Plain? Scholars have speculated that Luke didn’t know any better. As a Greek convert to the faith, he may have never been close enough to the geography of Israel to know the difference.
But in the context of Luke’s whole story, it’s a shrewd move to have Jesus preaching on level ground. Jesus literally levels the playing field by blessing the poor with the advantages of the rich, promising satisfaction to the hungry, and laughter to those who grieve. He likewise assures those who’ve made it that ‘it’s trouble ahead’. If Jesus stands on a par with the crowds and doesn’t enjoy a privileged place, we can be sure the justice of the kingdom will make no exceptions.
How are you, at this time in life, poor, hungry, sorrowing, or excluded?
How are you rich, satisfied, celebrating, and admired?
Commit yourself to levelling the playing field. Share your surplus: money, time, love, joy, faith, talent, respect.
The Scripture (Luke 6: 22-23)
Jesus continued, “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens – skip like a lamb, if you like – for even though they don’t like it, I do … and all heaven applauds. Know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this”.
The Story – Ask the Right Questions
A seasoned husband-and-wife jazz duet was being interviewed on television. It was fun seeing clips of their earlier days and hearing the behind-the-scenes stories of how they met and what other jazz greats they worked with throughout their long careers. Then the interviewer started asking them about their family life, and in the process they recounted how they had lost their oldest son to a rare heart disorder. The devastation of that loss was immediately apparent in their faces. They shared some of the details of their grief. They were
then asked what role their faith played in the process. The wife, who had been raised Catholic, admitted that the little faith she once had shrivelled and died the day her son died. The husband, who was Jewish, responded, “I received a lot of comfort from prayer but beyond that I couldn’t say. I’m not sure”. It felt terribly sad for both of them. Losing a child, feeling robbed of a loved one’s company – it’s hard to imagine anything more devastating. Our natural instinct is, of course, to ask God, Why? But Hebrew and Christian scripture is very clear that the question to ask God is not Why? but How? How do I bear this pain?
How long must I suffer? How do I stay faithful? And God’s answer? Trust me: You will be satisfied, you will laugh, your reward will be great – and, behold, your son is not dead but asleep.
The Reflection
It is amazing how many products offer us more happiness, when in fact they are only seeking to fulfil our consuming passion to have more. The notice of ‘Happy Hour’ at some places is always amusing, for if that is the ‘happy hour’ … what is the rest of the time? There are many stories of people who have sold their heart to make money. At first it is wonderful, for money can buy all sorts of things. But possessions alone cannot fill our inner emptiness; we also need love and to know we are of some value. There is nothing worse than the
person that has made it in the world but is poor in the sight of their neighbours or God. There is a very telling story from Matthew – the rich man sought eternal life but ‘he went away grieving, for he had many possessions’.
The Commissioning
You assure us that no adversary, no adversity, will defeat us, O God.
You inspire us to live our dreams.
You have given the life and the cross-death of Jesus Christ to free us.
You send us out to prove our discipleship.
In our faithfulness, you bless us!
As we serve, you work with us. Amen.
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