Sermon by Mike Stutso, Deacon In Training, based on Luke 6:17-26
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. AMEN
Beatitudes, yes, it’s that time of year again to hear those famous words. Even if you are not real familiar with them, we still take comfort in them like in today’s reading in Luke. But the one found in Matthew 5:3-12 appears to be the more popular one. Some of you may disagree with that last statement I made, but in my world and the research I did looking up the meanings; it would refer to Matthew’s version automatically and, yes, you will see Luke included. In fact, I even used Matthew’s version in a paper I wrote for my formation in the ordination process.
Let’s look at the word Beatitude; it comes from the Latin “Beatitudo” meaning “Blessedness”. In both versions each blessing starts with “Blessed are”, and in a commentary I read, it stated that the Beatitudes refers to a state of being whether it be happy, sad, hungry, full, rich, or poor. All are personal qualities needed for the promise Jesus is making to us, stating “For your reward in Heaven”. Mary Fairchild wrote of the Beatitudes; “Each saying speaks of a blessing or “Divine Favor” that will be bestowed on the person who possesses a certain character quality”.
The Beatitudes are some of the most beautiful teachings of Jesus that gives us hope and comfort, it’s a promise from God of what could and should be for each of us. Now we could talk about the beatitudes all day but then I’d never get to the actual Gospel. I did put both Sermons side by side and what a difference, but with the same meaning and promises for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
It made me wonder because y’all know I’m such a scholar and theologian (yeah right). Could it be that the Gospels of Luke and Matthew are actually two different events with two different accounts with the same meaning? Let me explain my thoughts. In Matthew there are nine Beatitudes and in Luke’s there are four Beatitudes and four Woes, did Jesus take the opportunity to utilize the same teaching scenario by just tweaking it a bit for two different groups?
I know I keep all my sermons since I started this journey and I then tweak them based on who I am speaking to and what new knowledge I have acquired. Or just maybe it is the interpretation of two of the Apostles as they saw it, either way they are different. Matthew’s sermon is called “The Sermon on the Mount” because Jesus went up the mountain when he saw the crowds and delivered his sermon. Where in Luke it says in Verse 12 that Jesus and his Disciples went up the mountain to pray overnight, so that is why it said they came down from the mountain where he saw the crowd. It continues to say He stood on a “Level Place”, could it be Jesus and Luke is showing how Jesus’ ministry truly works. By being on a level place it shows that he is not above or better than anyone, but on a level playing ground, he is making a statement that his love is for all, the poor, the lowly of society, just regular people in an ordinary place. When you think about, it isn’t this the way we should approach our outreach ministries today, with love and respect because all life is precious and should be protected?
Let’s talk about this crowd that Jesus had to see in front of him. It says Jesus came down with his Apostles, but what it doesn’t say is that the disciples were up there too because Jesus picked the 12 the night before, so we have Apostles, disciples, and people from Judea and Jerusalem. For clarification Jerusalem is in Judea, well guess who and what else is in Jerusalem? Well, we have the Temple, Pharisees, and scribes; do you think they might have heard what was going on? Just maybe the Pharisees were there hiding in the crowd because we all know they were always looking to discredit him, I can see that as a possibility. Then it says they also came from the coast of Tyre and Sidon which are Gentile cities north of Capernaum.
So, we can see the reach of Jesus’ ministries from the far north to the far south now that is a lot of walking in just a few years. But what I am also seeing not only are there Jews there but because of the mention of Tyre and Sidon that means there could also be Gentiles listening to Jesus. Now that Jesus has all these people around him he sees an opportunity to do some teaching to his Apostles, disciples, and the crowd.
I believe Jesus knew that the people were there for more than an education, they also had issues to be addressed and resolved. They had health issues and there were some unclean spirits hanging around that needed to go away. They knew that if Jesus didn’t say or do anything to cure them then just to touch him would do it (we’ve seen it before in the Gospels).
Well guess what, Jesus healed them and got to do some teaching and preaching. So there was a miracle without emphasizing it and I believe that is where Luke was taking us it was the words and not necessarily the curing that is important. Then Jesus looked up at the Apostles and starts the Beatitudes.
I found it interesting that Matthew’s version speaks in the third party when he states blessed are those or blessed are they where Luke speaks in the second party by saying blessed are you or woe to you. Let me quote a commentary I read that said “Both the Beatitudes and woes are descriptive rather than prescriptive. They describe already established reality instead of calling us to new behavior calculated to garner blessings and to avoid woes”. The second part of this says (which I’ve reworded) “The Beatitudes are different in that it promises a reward to those who endure rejection or persecution because of their faithfulness to Christ. The corresponding woes promise punishment to those who are like the false prophets of old”.
As I’ve said I love both of the Beatitudes, I find real comfort in knowing that God loves us and is giving us the opportunity to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The fact is that nothing in the Bible from the front to the back has ever changed. God is love and loves us all and wants us to live into our covenant with God so we too may enter into the Kingdom. I can also see that there are those who will question me and say, I have to wait till I die to find these rewards? Or If I’ve worked hard all my life and have money, food and I’m quite happy I have to lose it all to enter Heaven? You know that is a hard one to answer to make people happy,
I believe that it is up to each of us to find that answer based on our own theology and our commitment to God and where you find your comfort. Because God is there waiting for us to follow Jesus’ way. I see this as a call to my Deaconate ministries to help the poor because they have no voice, those who hunger for knowledge and nourishment, and those who weep for any reason. For me I weep for the world, I see Christianity in a downward spiral for a few years now because we are so busy chasing the all mighty dollar. We see our happiness based on our bank statements and our only obligations is to ourselves.
I’ll give you an example; when people get off the highway and up at the stop sign there are those signs, hungry, hard times, will work for food, veteran having a rough go. Many people will do all they can to pull forward of them or not pull all the way and then look the other way. I know because I used to do it, now most of the time I give them a dollar, I know it’s not much, but what I have said without words is, I see you and you are my brother or sister. I know I am trying to put a bandage on an amputation but I don’t have a choice, it is the life I’ve chosen for myself.
Well, I guess I didn’t choose this, it was chosen for me by someone we all know. I also face my sisters and brothers at the food pantry, Crossroads, the Detroit Men’s Rescue Mission as well as other places. Why? Because as long as there is a breath left in me, I refuse to devalue any life form (human or other), to include mother earth for if we destroy her we too will perish.
Jesus is not asking us to sell everything today, although he did ask that of one person, and we all know how that turned out. Jesus is not saying that it is better to be poor or hungry versus rich and full because we all know some people that are very well off and are great Christians, and we know some who are poor and not followers of the word, you see it on the news every day. It is a blend of everything we have and are, a balancing act so that we can find our own way to follow and serve God.
We must realize that the Beatitudes are a picture of true discipleship and dedication to the teachings of Jesus. That nowhere in the Bible does it say this is an easy road to travel as in versus 22 and 26.
It wasn’t easy then, and it ain’t any easier now, it might even be harder now. To live into our covenant is not a ticket to a life without pain, illness, failure, criticism for our beliefs. The bottom line is this, it’s hard and our work as Christians is to be true to the cause because this is not a popularity contest, it’s our very souls.
AMEN