(Church was closed due to inclement weather.)
Greetings, all!
Well, here we are watching the snow come down on a Sunday morning. Since we can’t be together at church, we thought you might like to read the sermon I prepared. Please stay warm, stay safe, and have a great day!
Blessings ~
P B
Luke 6:17-26
He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
‘But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
‘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.
‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
“Plain Talk with Jesus”
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, the Creator, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, thru the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the past few weeks, I’ve been reading a couple of books, like The Invitational Christian and Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, but just this week I just received this (show book) – Following the Call, Living the Sermon on the Mount Together. More than 100 “spiritually-wrapped” women and men including sharing devotions on the kind of spellbinding beatitudes, or “blessings” in the Sermon on the Mount. And, I might add, just in time for today’s sermon from Luke 6, also known as the “Sermon on the Plain.”
Luke’s What (?) You might be asking yourself.
Yes, his sermon on the plain. You might have the feeling of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” found in Matthew 5 and 6, primarily because of the “beatitudes” (Chpt 5), or the blessings of which Jesus spoke. If you recall, in Matthew, Jesus went “up the mountain”; sat down and his disciples came to him.
In today’s text, however, Luke tells us that “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place.” Thus, the plain.
Teaching point: Whenever you read of Jesus sitting with folks, he is in teaching mode, like in Matthew 5. When we read that Jesus is standing, he is now preaching. I think it’s kind of fun to be able to differentiate that when reading scripture. But be sure of one thing: whether teaching or preaching: the words Jesus Christ speaks are of vital importance.
And, other than a mountainside or a plain, what might another difference be? One difference could be the accessibility for folks to see and hear Jesus, right? I think it would be safe to say that the masses, from all walks of life, can gather around Jesus. Think about it…in this setting, Jesus’ words feel more direct, more personal and inclusive, as all are on level ground; no one is above or below another. There is no exclusivity to his teaching—he speaks to the common people, the poor, the sick, and the sinners, giving them a glimpse of the kingdom of God. He is emphasizing the radical nature of his kingdom and the reversal of worldly values. Plus, he is using the pronoun, “you.” Very personal and intimate.
Another important aspect of this passage is that the people have come to hear him and be healed by him. Jesus’ power is in both his words and his touch and people experienced this from the beginning. And, what did Jesus do first? Yes! He healed them.
Don’t you get a feeling Jesus knew the people could hear his words better when their wounds were healed? Of course, and I think it would be safe to say that those who were “troubled with unclean spirits” could hear God speak more fully without the shadows of the enemy holding tight within them.
That’s the thing, isn’t it?
Jesus always acts with grace and wisdom towards us, and oh-so-very-often, he reveals his compassion with those actions. It seems to me that as he is walking among this great crowd and multitude of suffering people whom he is healing, Jesus’ blessings and woes are sparked by his compassion for them.
You know, these words are spot-on for us today, as we are called to be Christ’s hands and feet to those who need the touch of the One who loves all. You have heard me say this before: we are called to BE the gospel to all people… Unfortunately, for many, they may think their particular lot in life is where they are mired at the present, without much hope, if any, for the future.
Some, like a fellow named Mike.
Mike used to attend the weekly Sunday breakfasts at First Lutheran Church, then stay for worship which followed. What Mike would not participate in was the real meal served – The Lord’s Supper.
Since Mike and I could speak frankly with each other as both were recovering from alcohol addiction, I asked him one day why he wouldn’t come forward to receive the body and blood. His response was simple…but, sad. He said,
“I’m not worthy.”
Geez…Have you ever felt that way? Not worthy to have the Bread of Life pressed in your hands and to taste the cup of salvation.
God knows…I have…and it is one of the loneliest, most despairing feelings one can have. I agreed with Mike’s remark, “I’m not worthy.” I told him none of us are. I’m certainly not. That’s why God came to earth and became one of us. He put on skin to feel what we feel, show us what boundless, seamless love looks like, and subsequently died for each and every one of us. That makes you worthy, Mike.”
Friends, that is what makes all of us worthy.
The transformation Jesus makes in us helps us better realize that there is no difference between us wherever we are and to help those in need of healing, food, love, and justice. That’s why we are here. So often I have to pinch myself on the importance of our calling to serve one another. Think about it. What an honor for each of us gathered to be called to the work of God Almighty.
The beauty of this passage reassures us that God’s love reaches into some of the darkest, most desperate, lonely places of heartache and despair. God’s love reaches lower than our worst mistakes as well. It is when we look thru the lens of love.
Yep – our calling is to bear witness to those who are suffering can see that our loving God can transform the present and give us hope for the future. Thank God his love can be disruptive and consoling as we make our way thru this life.
One last item, one I believe I may have shared before. It’s the word, blessed. It can also mean happy. But to be blessed isn’t some catchy advice on how to go and be happy; rather, blessed is being swept up in God’s decisive movement in the world. I like what theologian, N.Y. Wright, wrote in the book I just referred to: “Being blessed is about something that’s starting to happen, not about the general truth of life. It is gospel, the Good News, not good advice.”
May each of us be catalysts bringing the blessedness of the Good News to all.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.