The Beatitudes: Blessed Are...
Matthew 5:7-12
The anti-racism workshop at our Minnesota Conference Gathering last week shared this interesting view, Christianity did not convert the Roman Empire, the Roman Empire converted Christianity, but there has always been cracks and the workings of the Spirit. The Doctrine of Discovery was heavily discussed because it is still in effect, used to deny Oak Flat being saved from copper mining against the Apache nations wishes. Christian nations have the right to do what they want with land and people not Christian. This happened this summer.
Christian Empire, including Christian Nationalism, is the antithesis of what Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount. Instead of the 10 Commandments on each wall, we should be placing the Beatitudes so we can be reminded what following Jesus is about. I am not going to go through them one by one as Pastor Peggy did last week with the first four, rather let us look at the context and meaning of them as a whole.
First, the Beatitudes are not for individual achievement. Blessed are those…. So when we do them or look at them or study them, we are already in a community. Jesus does not say, blessed is the one who is the peacemaker, but rather, blessed are the peacemakers. Though an individual may be working alone in a certain setting, they are not alone because there are others around the world and maybe unbeknownst to them others in their community also wanting peace.
Second, the Beatitudes will bring about persecution and prosecution. We see this in our country right now of government leaders who seek justice are being detained, arrested, and even shot and assassinated. The world is not an evil place, But there is violence and corruption and those who seek power and wealth deny Jesus’ calling the meek and the pure-in-heart blessed in that they will inherit the earth and be called children of God.
Lastly, let us talk about the word, “Blessed.” Some translations use the word “happy” in replacement. that is too shallow. Like many religious words, it is hard to define because it is connected to an eternal and infinite God. Within the blessing, there is a promise, blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. I would define ‘blessed’ in this context as, “Walking with God, open to the gifts of the Spirit, and living fully into the calling that Christ invites us to.”
Today, let us expand the Beatitudes by writing your version on the insert. You can do this by just saying Blessed are: the Palestinians as a group that represents one of the beatitudes or you can say, Blessed are: the bullied for they have compassion. We will pass out pens and during our offertory, you will be invited to come up and tape yours on the wall and give your offering in plates held by our ushers.