THE WORLD IS CRYING OUT FOR TRANSFORMATION
Matthew 5:11-12; Revelation 21:2-6
Rev. Paul Wrightman 8/21/22
TODAY MARKS THE CONCLUSION OF OUR STUDY
OF THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS.
THE BEATITUDES ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY
AN INTRODUCTION AND A SUMMARY OF THE LARGEST
BLOCK OF TEACHING MATERIAL DELIVERED BY JESUS
IN THE GOSPELS, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
ALONG WITH THE THREE MAGNIFICENT PARABLES
THAT JESUS GAVE US IN LUKE CHAPTER 15,
THOSE OF THE LOST SHEEP, THE LOST COIN, AND THE LOST SON --
WHICH DEFINITIVELY REVEAL TO US THAT GOD IS LOVE --
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT GIVES US MORE CRUCIAL INSIGHTS
INTO GOD’S NATURE.
THE PARABLES IN LUKE 15 MAKE THE ABSOLUTE
BUT RATHER GENERAL POINT THAT GOD IS LOVE.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT REVEALS TO US
WHAT GOD’S LOVE LOOKS LIKE IN ACTION.
THEY ALSO REVEAL TO US HOW GOD DESIRES US TO LIVE
IF WE DARE TO MAKE THE CHOICE OF BECOMING
A FOLLOWER OF JESUS, OF BECOMING ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES
IN SAME WAY THAT THOSE FIRST MEN AND WOMEN
FOLLOWED THE WAY OF JESUS SO MANY CENTURIES AGO.
IN FACT, THE ORIGINAL NAME OF THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT
WAS SIMPLY “THE WAY,” A NAME WHICH ECHOED
THE WAY OF LIFE PRESENTED IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
IN THIS SERMON GOD HAS GIVEN US THROUGH JESUS
NOTHING LESS THAN A DESCRIPTION OF THE WAY OF LIVING
WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE TO BECOME PERSONS
WHO ARE HAPPY AND WHOLE.
AS WE SHALL SEE IN THE WEEKS TO COME,
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT – IF LIVED OUT –
CONTAINS EVERYTHING THAT HUMANITY NEEDS
TO SOLVE ALL OUR MAJOR PROBLEMS.
THE “CATCH,” OF COURSE, LIES IN ACTUALLY LIVING OUT
THE TEACHINGS IN THIS SERMON.
MOST CHRISTIANS, AND HUMANITY AS A WHOLE,
SEEM TO HAVE STALLED AT THE RATHER PRIMITIVE TEACHING
OF “AN EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.”
I’M FLOORED AT THE NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS WHO SAY
THAT THIS IS THEIR FAVORITE VERSE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE,
WHICH AMOUNTS TO NOTHING MORE THAN ENDLESSLY
EXACTING IN-KIND REVENGE.
JESUS EXPECTS MORE FROM PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE
HIS FOLLOWERS, ESPECIALLY SINCE HE HIMSELF,
AS WE SHALL SEE IN A FEW WEEKS, ROUNDLY REPUDIATES
THIS PARTICULAR BIBLE VERSE AS AN ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE
THAT NEEDS TO BE REJECTED RATHER THAN EMBRACED.
CHRISTIANS NEED TO REALIZE ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL THAT THE BIBLE
AS A WHOLE DOES NOT GIVE US THE REVELATION WE NEED
TO TRANSFORM OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES OR THE WORLD AS A WHOLE.
ONLY JESUS’ TEACHING DOES THAT, AND THE PRIMARY LOCUS
OF HIS TEACHING IS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
ERNEST KURTZ, ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE SPIRITUALITY
OF IMPERFECTION, SHARES THE FOLLOWING:
“SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I FLEW FROM ATLANTA. . .TO DETROIT,
EN ROUTE TO A MEETING IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN.
RENTING A CAR, I LAID OUT A BOOK OF MAPS
ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND PROCEEDED TO SET OUT
FOR THE NORTHERN MICHIGAN PENINSULA.
THE MAP OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA WAS BEAUTIFULLY DETAILED,
SHOWING THE AIRPORT ON THE WEST OF THE CITY,
THE LARGE BODY OF WATER ON THE CITY’S EAST,
AND ROUTE 94, THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.
BUT AFTER ALMOST AN HOUR OF WANDERING AROUND
LOOKING AT ROAD SIGNS THAT FAILED TO MATCH THE MAP
AND OBVIOUSLY GETTING NOWHERE, THE REALIZATION
SLOWLY DAWNED:
THE FORD FREEWAY ON WHICH I WAS DRIVING
WOULD NEVER TURN INTO THE EDENS EXPRESSWAY
SHOWN ON THE MAP.
THE MAP OF DETROIT DIDN’T WORK
BECAUSE IT WAS THE WRONG MAP.
IT WAS A MAP OF CHICAGO.”
THE BOOK THE SPIRITUALITY OF IMPERFECTION
IS ABOUT ADDICTION, AND KURTZ GOES ON TO QUOTE
THE OBSERVATION OF AN A.A. MEMBER:
“THE DRINKING ALCOHOLIC IS TRYING TO FIND HIS [OR HER]
WAY AROUND ON EARTH WITH THIS BEAUTIFULLY DETAILED MAP
OF VENUS.”
WE COULD EXPAND THIS POINT TO SAY THAT ANYONE
WITH ANY KIND OF ADDICTIVE TENDENCY – FOR ALCOHOL,
OR FOOD, OR POWER, OR SUCCESS, OR INDEPENDENCE, OR COMFORT,
OR CONTROL, TO NAME JUST A FEW –
IS RESPONDING TO LIFE VERY MUCH ALONG THE LINES OF
TRYING TO FORCE A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE.
OVER THE LONG RUN, IT SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK.
JUST AS, ON THE LARGER SOCIAL LEVEL, COMMUNISM,
UNBRIDLED CAPITALISM, TREATING THE EARTH AS SOMETHING
TO DOMINATE AND EXPLOIT, AND THE PRIMITIVE TEACHING OF “AN EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH,”
SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK IN TERMS OF BRINGING ABOUT
PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR PLANET AS A WHOLE.
AS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT THINKERS OF OUR TIME, RENE GIRARD,
HAS SAID, THE ONLY FORCE CAPABLE OF HEALING OUR BROKEN LIVES,
OUR BROKEN SOCIETY, AND OUR BROKEN PLANET
IS THE IMITATION OF CHRIST.
THIS AMOUNTS TO LIVING OUT IN OUR OWN DAILY LIVES
THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AS GIVEN IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT POINTS OF CONTACT BETWEEN
THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA
AND THOSE OF SUFI MYSTICS SUCH AS RUMI AND HAFIZ,
AND CERTAIN HINDU MYSTICS AND ACTIVISTS, SUCH AS GANDHI.
JESUS WOULD CONSIDER THESE SPIRITUAL GIANTS
TO BE MEMBERS OF HIS OWN FAMILY,
AND THEIR TEACHINGS, IF FOLLOWED, QUITE CAPABLE
OF LEADING TO PERSONAL AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.
(PAUSE)
NOW LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT TODAY’S BEATITUDE:
BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN PEOPLE REVILE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU
AND UTTER ALL KINDS OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY
ON MY ACCOUNT. REJOICE AND BE GLAD, FOR YOUR REWARD
IS GREAT IN HEAVEN, FOR IN THE SAME WAY THEY PERSECUTED
THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE YOU.
THE FIRST THING TO NOTICE ABOUT TODAY’S BEATITUDE
IS A FASCINATING SHIFT IN GRAMMAR
FROM ALL THE PREVIOUS BEATITUDES,
WHICH ARE STATED IN THE THIRD PERSON, “BLESSED ARE THOSE. . .”
IN THIS FINAL, SUMMARY BEATITUDE, JESUS EXPRESSES HIMSELF
IN THE SECOND PERSON, “BLESSED ARE YOU. . .”
FOR ME, JESUS HAS DELIVERED A SERIES
OF EIGHT BLESSING STATEMENTS PURPOSEFULLY GIVEN
IN THE SOMEWHAT ABSTRACT AND IMPERSONAL THIRD PERSON.
THEY IGNITE MY CURIOSITY, THEY DRAW ME IN – BUT NOT TOO MUCH.
I CAN STILL SAFELY LOOK ON AS AN OUTSIDER.
BUT SUDDENLY JESUS SHIFTS TO SECOND PERSON
AND ADDRESSES ME DIRECTLY: “BLESSED ARE YOU. . .”
IT’S AS IF JESUS WERE SPEAKING TO A CROWD,
AND SUDDENLY SHIFTS HIS GAZE FROM THE CROWD IN GENERAL
TO ME, OR YOU, IN PARTICULAR.
NOW, IT’S A GREAT THING TO BE BLESSED BY JESUS PERSONALLY –
WE ALL LIKE THE SOUND OF “BLESSED ARE YOU. . .”
BUT THEN COMES THE SURPRISE, THE PART THAT CATCHES US
OFF GUARD:
“BLESSED ARE YOU. . .WHEN PEOPLE REVILE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU
AND UTTER ALL KINDS OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY
ON MY ACCOUNT. . .”
IT IS CRUCIAL TO NOTE THAT SINCE THIS IS THE LAST,
OR SUMMARY BEATITUDE, IT COVERS ALL THE BEATITUDES.
THE CHALLENGING IMPLICATION IS THAT IF WE’RE
COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO LIVE ACCORDING
TO THE WAY OF JESUS --
IF WE’RE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO BE POOR AND HUMBLE
BEFORE GOD,
TO BE SO SADDENED BY THE BROKENNESS OF OURSELVES
AND OUR WORLD THAT WE’RE COMPELLED TO TAKE ACTION;
IF WE’RE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO SURRENDER OUR WILL
TO GOD’S WILL,
TO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE,
TO PRACTICE COMPASSION-IN-ACTION,
TO SEEK GOD’S WILL IN ALL THAT WE ARE AND DO,
AND TO BE A PEACEMAKER –
IF WE’RE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY TAKE ON
LIVING THE WAY THAT JESUS LIVED,
THEN, LIKE HIM, WE WILL SOMETIMES BE REJECTED AND DESPISED.
IN HIS NEXT SENTENCE JESUS PUSHES THE ENVELOPE EVEN FURTHER
BY TELLING US TO “REJOICE AND BE GLAD”
WHEN REJECTION HAPPENS TO US THROUGH FOLLOWING HIS WAY.
WHY?
BECAUSE IN BEING REJECTED FOR LIVING OUT THE BEATITUDES
WE CAN KNOW THAT WE’RE ON THE RIGHT PATH,
THAT WE’RE ON THE PATH OF JESUS
AND OF THE PROPHETS WHO CAME BEFORE HIM.
TO BE REJECTED FOR FOLLOWING JESUS’ WAY
OF LOVE AND COMPASSION SIMPLY MEANS
THAT WE’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
OF COURSE IT’S ALL-TOO-EASY TO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE
AND TO CRITIZE AND CONDEMN THOSE
WHO CRITICIZE AND CONDEMN US.
IT SEEMS THAT THE FALL-BACK POSITION
FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF HUMAN BEINGS IS
TO REVERT TO “AN EYE FOR AN EYE, A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.”
SO I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO
IF HE WERE CRITICIZED AND CONDEMNED FOR LIVING OUT
LOVE AND COMPASSION?”
WE RECEIVE A CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL ANSWER
TO THIS QUESTION IN THE GOSPELS:
JESUS WOULD SIMPLY, UNFLINCHINGLY CONTINUE
TO LIVE OUT THE VALUES OF LOVE AND COMPASSION!
FOR HIM – AS IT SHOULD BE FOR US WHO CLAIM
TO BE HIS FOLLOWERS – THIS IS ULTIMATELY WHAT IT MEANS
TO LOVE ONE’S ENEMIES – JESUS’ MOST CHALLENGING TEACHING
OF THEM ALL.
BUT HOW DO WE BROKEN PEOPLE
GET BETTER AT LOVING OUR ENEMIES?
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A DOWN-TO-EARTH, PRACTICAL WAY.
WHAT IF EVERY NIGHT BEFORE WE WENT TO SLEEP
WE WERE TO ENGAGE IN AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
BASED ON THE BEATITUDES OF JESUS?
WHAT IF WE WERE TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH OURSELVES
IN ASKING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS?
TODAY, IN WHAT WAYS DID I EMBRACE BEING POOR IN SPIRIT;
IN WHAT WAYS DID I FLEE FROM IT AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT?
FOR WHOM AND FOR WHAT HAVE I BEEN IN MOURNING TODAY?
HOW MEEK, HOW HUMBLE, HOW OPEN AM I
IN MY RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL?
IN WHAT WAYS AM I HUNGRY FOR JUSTICE?
IN WHAT WAYS DO I DENY JUSTICE TO OTHERS?
HOW COMPASSIONTE AM I TO THOSE WHO IN SOME WAY
HAVE DONE ME HARM?
HOW PURE IS MY HEART; WHAT KEEPS IT IMPURE?
WHAT ARE THE DIVISIONS THAT INTERSECT WITH MY LIFE
AND IN WHAT WAYS AM I RESPONDING TO THESE DIVISIONS
AS A PEACEMAKER?
DO I ACCEPT CRITICISM FOR TRYING TO LIVE THE WAY
THAT JESUS LIVED AS A BLESSING –
OR DO I AVOID ANYTHING THAT MIGHT GET ME INTO TROUBLE?
EACH OF THE BEATITUDES HAS TO DO WITH DYING
TO OUR “OLD” SELF, TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR A NEW,
TRANSFORMED SELF TO COME INTO BEING.
POVERTY OF SPIRIT, THE FOUNDATION OF THE BEATITUDES,
IS THE ON-GOING PROCESS OF DYING TO OUR OLD SELF,
NOT OUT OF SELF-HATRED OR A COLLAPSE OF SELF-ESTEEM,
BUT BECAUSE THERE IS SIMPLY NO OTHER WAY
TO LOVE GOD AND NEIGHBOR.
MOURNING IS ALSO A SURRENDER OF OUR OLD SELF.
BEING DEEPLY SADDENED TO THE POINT OF ACTION
ENABLES ME TO PUT OTHERS FIRST, AND MYSELF SECOND
FOR A CHANGE.
MEEKNESS, OR HUMILITY, IS DYING TO OUR OLD SELF –
A SURRENDER TO GOD AND A SURRENDER TO THE NEEDS
OF THOSE WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME TO LOVE AND TO SERVE.
HUNGERING AND THIRSTING FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
REQUIRES DYING TO OUR OLD SELF IN THE DAILY STRUGGLE
TO OVERCOME IN ONESELF AND IN SOCIETY ALL THOSE THINGS
THAT KEEP US APART FROM GOD AND APART FROM EACH OTHER –
EVERYTHING THAT DESTROYS COMMUNION AND COMMUNITY.
BEING MERCIFUL, OR COMPASSIONATE, IS A SURRENDER TO GOD,
ANOTHER DYING TO SELF, FOR IT IS NOT MY OWN
PERSONAL COMPASSION THAT I HAVE TO OFFER –
ONLY GOD’S COMPASSION FLOWING THROUGH MY LIFE –
IF ONLY I WILL GET OUT OF THE WAY.
A PURE HEART IS UNOBTAINABLE EXCEPT THROUGH
DEATH TO SELF, THEN AWAITING THE RESURRECTION
OF MY DEEPER SELF THROUGH GOD.
PEACEMAKING IS ALSO A DEATH TO SELF.
THERE IS NO PEACE WITHOUT RISK TO SELF
IN ATTEMPTING TO SAFEGUARD THE NEEDS OF OTHERS,
WHETHER FRIENDS OR ENEMIES.
ACCEPTING CRITICISM FOR TRYING TO LIVE THE WAY JESUS LIVED
AS A BLESSING IS THE FINAL ACT OF DEATH TO SELF –
A POVERTY OF SPIRIT THAT ALLOWS US TO COPE WITH REJECTION
WITHOUT BITTERNESS, HATRED, AND RESENTMENT.
(PAUSE)
MAY GOD BLESS US WITH THE DETERMINATION
TO BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE JESUS.
MAY GOD BLESS US WITH THE GRACE TO MEET
CRITICISM AND REJECTION WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION.
MAY GOD ENABLE EACH OF US TO BECOME A PERSON
WHO IS SLOWLY BUT STEADILY GROWING INTO
EACH OF THE BEATITUDES.
MAY GOD HELP EACH OF US TO BECOME MORE COURAGEOUS
IN THE LIVING OUT OF GOD’S WAY OF JUSTICE, PEACE,
COMPASSION, AND LOVE.
AMEN.