SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 5.1-12 Common English Bible (CEB)
Matthew 5.1-12 Common English Bible (CEB)
Commonly called the
Beatitudes, from the Sermon on the Mount, (Our translation uses Happy, instead
of “Blessed”)
5.1 Now when Jesus saw
the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. 2 He
taught them, saying:
3 “Happy are people
who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 “Happy are people
who grieve, because they will be made glad.
5 “Happy are people
who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
6 “Happy are people
who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until
they are full.
7 “Happy are people
who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
8 “Happy are people
who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
9 “Happy are people
who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
10 “Happy are people
whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of
heaven is theirs.
11 “Happy are you when
people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things
about you, all because of me. 12 Be full of joy and be glad, because you
have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets
who came before you.
SERMON
Buses don’t always stop in Israel, and there isn’t that button to press or cord to pull like in cities in the U.S.. You may have just sat on the bus for three hours and if your stop is ten minutes before the main transfer point, the driver just may pass it. You can remind him, and double check before getting on, but if he forgets, you may find yourself taking three extra buses to get to a certain Kibbutz, what the communal Jewish settlement’s are called. One of those busses might involve being packed like sardines, people sitting on the floor with others standing above them, an elderly man and his son squishing in next to you, and then in the aisle, and watching a tense verbal fight in another language, with multiple people involved and growing, such that not only can you not physically move forward to the exit to your stop in time, but you aren’t sure what you are getting into to do so, perhaps the middle of a fight. Moreover, because of this debacle and others, you just might get dropped off just far enough down the mountain from your end point, that walking with your big bag, (and y’all saw my big bag), in the hot sun, after a long day, straight uphill, is kinda preposterous, even for a healthy thirty-five year old. And so, this is how I found myself on the side of the road, looking at a sign that read, the, “Mount of Beatitudes.” Being dropped off at any other location, I might have been frustrated, but it is really hard to be frustrated when you have Jesus talking in your ear, “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth. Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who are….” okay Jesus,” I thought, “I’m not going to be in a bad mood, because here I am in the place near where you were, and besides it isn’t dark yet out, and I get to meet up with Luke whenever I get to Chorazim, and he knows I'm late - kind of, that’s my only worry, but I am safe, and my giant bag is a good seat, and heck, in this direct sun, at least I’m getting a tan - not that that's what you, Jesus, intended, by the Sermon on the Mount, but sitting in this place with those words in my ear, is a good reminder to trust that something grander is at play. That the Kingdom of Heaven is at work in the world.
These words: This isn’t a scripture, as some
protest, that glorifies suffering. That says if you are harassed, be happy,
because at least righteousness and the kingdom of heaven is yours. This isn’t a
scripture about a pie-in-the-sky heaven, as others suggest. Saying that if you
are hopeless, be happy, because at least you will get the kingdom of heaven eventually.
This isn’t a scripture that expects a person to change how they authentically
feel in order to get a reward. Instead, it’s a scripture that invites a person
to honor how they feel, or act, because through these characteristics the
Kingdom of Heaven comes into the world and brings gladness. It’s a scripture
that reminds us that God is present. It is to say, when we show mercy, we
receive mercy, be happy. It is to say, those who have pure hearts, see God, and
are happy. Those who make peace are children of God, and are happy.
I was in one of the meetings the other evening
over this present conflict, and at it’s closing, hours after we began, an
unexpected, beautiful God moment happened. A congregant wondered why they
themselves had been in church leadership so long, and didn't feel frustrated
with everything, they didn’t feel a need to be done, like each meeting was a
ticking time bomb. And clear as day, I turned to the congregant, “I know why.” And
just by my looking at them we both knew what I was going to say, “I’ve told you
this before,” and they said “Oh, you're gonna make me cry." And I said,
"I'm gonna say it again, because you should hear it again. One of your
gifts is to be able to see both sides of a thing and have love and grace for
everyone. I’ve seen you do it in other hard times, and I see you doing it now. I
think that's why you don't get burned out.” And then Keith Hudson from
Committee on Ministry echoed that the congregant had been one of the most even
keel people throughout the process. I thought to myself, I don't think this
person hears that stuff enough, and I am glad this person could, and it’s
really important now. And there, in the middle of telling the congregant, with my hands
talking - big and wide like a hug, in my head, I was like, and here's the
ministry part, in the midst of all this. I’m doing ministry, in brief passing
moments.
Later, it made me think of The Lion, the Witch and
the Wardrobe, which I’ve happened to remember a lot during this time. In it,
the creatures of Narnia talk about how it is always winter and never Christmas,
but with the brothers and sisters four, the still storyline is beginning to
change. Despite White Witch and the whispers of trees who have ears of spies,
Father Christmas was making his rounds, and the word, Aslan, the Christlike
Lion, was prophesied to come. In that scene, Father Christmas came and and gave
gifts to the brothers and sisters. To Lucy, the youngest, he gave her a little
bottle of what looked like glass (but people said afterwards that it was made
of diamonds. "In this bottle," Father Christmas said, "there is a
cordial made of the juice of one of the fire-flowers that grow in the mountains
of the sun. If you or any of your friends are hurt, a few drops of this will
restore you.” I realized that this congregant had been pouring out drops on us
all, no matter if we had succumbed to the White Witch’s poisoned temptations of
Turkish Delight, or trusted the good Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, because we were all
in Narnia, and passed through the wardrobe of sanctuary doors, from Baker City,
Oregon, to First Presbyterian.
Father Christmas didn’t give me this cordial
gift. I like to think I maybe have the gift of Susan’s horn for summoning
Aslan, the note to sound out truth loud and clear, like a pastor with a mic,
but if I have not love underneath it, I am a clanging cymbal. I am afraid at
other times, I carry Peter’s gift of a sword, thinking I am swinging for
righteousness, but knowing those who live by the sword, die by the sword. I am
not sure with which gift you most identify, but maybe the best clue is if it
makes us happy, not stupid happy, but Kingdom of God happy then we are doing
the Beatitudes right. I hadn’t felt that ministry feeling in a while, but
naming this congregant’s gift reminded me of the happy felt when you blow the
horn for the right reason, the God reason. For the kingdom touching down,
albeit briefly, in the midst of winter, like the juice made of fire-flowers
that grow in the mountains of the sun.
They say, when times are tough, to find the
heroes, and I think this is what this passage is about. That there is something
about the heroes ability to wade through the mire and continually care, without
getting caught, up that allows them to be happy, and to carry on with peace
and find joy.
“Happy are people who
have pure hearts, because they will see God.
“Happy are people who make
peace, because they will be called God’s children.
In that land of Israel and
Palestine, and buses, there are many stories involving transportation and
opposing sides. Many of these stories end with death, and violence, and
terror, but there are some where we can see the hero’s peacemaking cordial
being poured out. The following stories come from the AEICenter, and are
written in posters on the Separation Wall.
“Standing Up, by Fahmi. I
am a Palestinian young man from Artas on the southwest side of Bethlehem. I
used to work inside the Green Line of 1948 (which is the border between Israel
and Palestine). When I took the Israeli bus on my way to work, an elderly
Israeli woman entered the bus. She looked for an empty seat but there were no
vacant seats left and nobody offered her a seat. Her clothes were wet because
of the rainfall and immediately after I saw her I stood up quickly. The woman
looked at me and said, “Where are you from?” I replied, “I am a Palestinian from
Bethlehem.” Then she quickly asked me, “Do you know that all the passengers on
this bus are Israelis?” I answered her, “Yes.” She then added, “But not a
single person moved aside but you Arab Palestinians have more respect to the
old people. Thank you.” I told her, “This is part of our human values and
education.[1]”
“Happy are people who show
mercy, because they will receive mercy.
“ First Aid, by Ibrahim,
from Biet Jala, In my Muslim family it has always been common to tell stories.
A few days ago, my grandmother told me a story which I will always remember.
Because of a curfew imposed by the Israeli occupation during the Intifada at the
end of the 1980’s, my father and his family were all home. My father was at the
time six years old and playing outside. My grandmother cooked lunch. While my
father was playing, he fell and hit his head. My grandmother’s neighbor, a
Christian nurse, heard what had happened and came running out of her house to
help my father. She carried my father to her house. After some time she was
able to stop the bleeding and put bandages on his head. Without this woman’s
selfless caregiving, my father would have lost his life[2].”
“Happy are people who are
hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are
full.
“The Box, by Rawan, St.
Jospeh School - Ramallah. Two neighbors, Muslims and Christians, came together
after Ramadan in a friendly atmosphere. During their feast days they were used
to congratulating each other and sharing food. However, the Christian family received
sad news. The mother, Sofia, told her friend Fatima, “The bank sent us a
warning that they are going to confiscate our shop because we did not pay the
bills. Our shop sales and income were not good and my husband has been ill. He
does not know what to do.” Fatima said, “Oh, Um Mikel, (mother of Mikel,) why
didn’t you tell me?” After ten minutes, the Muslim neighbors arrived carrying a
box. Sofia opened it. “Gold bracelets!” “Take it, and take this,” as the family
handed her 1000 Jordanian Dinar. “If I had more, I would give it to you.” No
wall could separate them[3].
“Happy are people who
are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
