Sermon by Kathryn Winslow

Scriptures: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Matthew 5:1-12 sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes (The Blessing, or blessed) Kathryn Winslow

A couple of weeks ago Nancy Jo led us in Lectio Divina. We’ll do a variation of that today. Soon I’ll first ask, “what word appraise stands out to you?” We’ll look at the Gospel again. “What questions do you have or is there another word or phrase that stands out?” I’ll share a bit more and then perhaps after church, in the fellowship hall, and this week you can connect with someone over the question, “What do you think God is asking of you after reading this?” Or you can ask what are you wondering about today’s Gospel?

What is a word, a phrase that stands out to you?

Listen to responses.

Notice how this is a series of balanced questions blessed are those who… (blank noun or descriptor of type of person/group), for they shall…. (Blank Verb). Dependent clause. Shall versus Will… Will is technically a want, wish or desire. Shall is more contractual, a contract between two parties. And God is not then do the lesson again, with some. Added in aspects.

11 Blessed are YOU when people revile you and Persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad/for your reward is great in heaven, For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Other thoughts/words?

Previously I visualized each line as a separate group of people. Now first to jump to that last part, that troublesome last part, vs 11 & 12 blessed are YOU when people revile you, persecute you… “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad??” What?

We are wronged. Wounded. Hurt. Lied to or about. Judged. Broken relationships. Losses. Deaths. End of Life as we knew it. We’re ostracized from family members or former friends. Our bodies ache. We encounter so many challenges, so much suffering, and see others suffering, too, that we eventually choose, or feel we have no choice, except to lay it down at the Cross, at Jesus feet, and surrender it all. We recognize we cannot do life on our own. We need and turn to something greater than ourselves. We also need community. Perhaps we begin to seek God’s will.

Perhaps it is in suffering we can better relate to the prophets, saints, and Christ, who died, and rose again.…. So when we suffer we may better understand Christ and connect.

Maybe in being entirely honest with ourselves, God, and God’s people, we suffer, and make a deliberate choice to praise the Holy One always, and receive the joy from our Creator, seeing our circumstances through God’s eyes (not seeing God through our circumstances), we are truly blessed. Maybe being deliberate to find joy in suffering, and to drawing closer to God are all steps in the

Beatitude Process.

1. Maybe in order to surrender,

2. we become poor in spirit,

3. we mourn, deep in grief over our losses of people, relationships, life as we knew it. We feel powerless, meek, weak.

4. We hunger and thirst for justice for ourselves, and others who have been wronged and hurt.

5. We seek God. We “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, justice.”

6. We experience Our Creator’s grace and mercy and extend it to others.

7. We cannot hide from God; we are Honest with God and ourselves and draw closer. Once we are in the Holy One’s presence, how hallowed God is and praise the name and that space, we make peace and become peacemakers to those around us.

Synonyms for blessing, bless, or blessed are:

Joy. Joyful. Beatify. Beatitudes. Hallowed. Hallowed be thy name. Consecrated.

The Holy One consecrates us in this process. We struggle, work through the Beatitudes Process and we gain compassion, our faith increases. We are connected. We are consecrated.

We struggle, and we are blessed.

We can help extend that mercy and bless others, Beatify others.

And in doing this we bless God.

God the Holy One who blesses us, consecrates us. Hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done….Amen.