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In Search of…?

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“In Search of…?”

Luke 6:17-26 (6:23) – February 16, 2025

Have you ever been looking forward to something, with all your heart? Perhaps, getting to a stadium early, and looking forward to a great ball game? Or, arriving at the church, looking forward to a wedding of two people who are dear to you? Maybe, finally going to a concert you’ve been waiting for, for many months. Looking forward to—what, exactly?

            Reading again from Luke 6: “Jesus went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there and a great number of people who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured.”

            Yes, this was very early in the Rabbi Jesus’s ministry, but there already was talk about this promising young Rabbi. He not only teaches with authority, but this Jesus heals people’s diseases, too! And, He even casts demons out of people!

But, let us step back from this reading in Luke, for a moment. This reading is very similar to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. In fact, this larger reading in Luke is called the Sermon on the Plain. Our reading today echoes Matthew’s Beatitudes! However, there are significant differences between these two readings.

In Matthew, the Beatitudes are pretty straight-forward. It’s the Rabbi Jesus giving blessings to groups of people, who do specific things. The disciple Matthew was Jewish, writing primarily for Jews. But here in the Gospel of Luke, we have a slightly different perspective. Dr. Luke was Greek, and he wrote for a much more diverse audience. As we look at Luke’s version of blessings here in the Sermon on the Plain, we also find Jesus pronouncing woes! Such a difference from Matthew and the Beatitudes, for a diverse audience, this time!  

Who hasn’t turned to the Beatitudes for comfort, for reassurance, knowing that our Lord Jesus is on our side? Knowing that Jesus is supporting us, and in our corner? Certainly, we can still do all that, looking at Dr. Luke’s words from the Sermon on the Plain. “But there is more in these words, and some of it is a little hard to take. ‘Rejoice in that day,’ Jesus says, not about good things that happen, but about suffering, about being hated, about being rejected. This is not something we want to feel joy about.” [1]

When some people read Luke 6, some might nod their heads. Or, say nice things, like “wonderful words!” or “meaningful sentiments, surely!” But, are these opinions simply surface platitudes? Do people who praise this reading from Luke understand its full implications? 

But, this isn’t about us. We do not get to pick and choose what parts of the Gospels and which words of our Lord Jesus we like. No, we all are called to minister, to reach out to all people. As the Rev. Ernest Lyght mentions, “Perhaps there are some similarities between the crowd on the plain and the crowds that come to our churches. When you look out into your congregation, whom do you see? What are their needs? Who are the people who come to our churches? Do they reflect the neighborhoods around the church?

“Surely, they are folks who want to hear a Word from the Lord, and they want to be healed. They come with certain expectations.”[2]

In our society here in the United States, these precise words of Jesus are not particularly popular. In popular culture today – even in the church – do we often see wealth and success as signs of being favored or lucky? Who is often praised or lifted up as being wealthy and successful? Sports stars? Pop musicians and rappers? What about leaders in industry or CEOs of large corporations? How many of these supposedly “wealthy, successful” people follow these particular words of Jesus? These words of Jesus are not about following the crowd. These are challenging words from Jesus, difficult to hear, and even more difficult to put into action.  

            Which leads us to the next question: what are you looking forward to from the worship service, this morning? Were you expecting a warm, familiar service, with nice, familiar hymns, and a warm, comforting sermon?

Here is a poem written by a (then) ten-year-old boy, a few years back. The boy, now a teenager, is autistic, on the Aspergers spectrum. Listen to this view from someone our society would not consider “successful.”

I am odd, I am new / I wonder if you are too
I hear voices in the air / I see you don’t, and that’s not fair
I want to not feel blue / I am odd, I am new
I pretend that you are too / I feel like a boy in outerspace
I touch the stars and feel out of place / I worry what others might think
I cry when people laugh, it makes me shrink / I am odd, I am new
I understand now that so are you / I say I, “feel like a castaway”
I dream of a day that that’s okay / I try to fit in
I hope that someday I do / I am odd, I am new. [3]

Were you surprised and even taken aback when we listened to this lovely boy with autism who wrote that wonderful poem for his English assignment? (I had tears in my eyes when I finished reading that poem. God bless that boy, and God bless that teacher, too.)

            Look again at Luke’s version of the Beatitudes: “’Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.’”

“We don’t rejoice because someone has hurt us, but we rejoice because we have a community that can help us heal from the hurt. We have relationships that can insulate us from the suffering that any of us might encounter living in the world. In worship, then, we can celebrate that community of support and encouragement. We give thanks for one another and the way we have been enfolded into a loving environment that helps shape our identity as an antidote to the identity we sometimes encounter in the world.” [4]

               Does Jesus challenge you in your daily walk with Him, or are you just looking for a nice, easy, quiet stroll with Jesus? Do we have open doors? Who are the people who do not come to our church, on this corner? Do we truly welcome all people?

These words of Jesus are not about following the crowd. What are you looking forward to? Check with our Lord Jesus, and see who He would welcome. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/sixth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes

[2] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship/season-after-epiphany-2019-part-2-worship-planning-series/february-17-sixth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c/sixth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-2019-year-c-preaching-notes  

[3] https://en.stories.newsner.com/family/10-year-old-boy-with-autism-writes-poem-for-homework-his-teacher-is-at-a-loss-for-words/

[4] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/sixth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes

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Hungry and Thirsty Blessings

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“Hungry and Thirsty Blessings”

Matthew 5:1-7 (5:6) – July 31, 2022

Have you ever been really hungry? I mean, have you ever gone without food for more than a day? Longer than that? Hunger can be an ache inside, an actual pain inside your abdomen. Being physically hungry and thirsty can be dangerous for people’s health. Yet, food is not all that people hunger for.

Our Lord Jesus wanted to specifically mention those who were hungry and thirsty. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Yes, we can think of people who are actually, physically hungry and thirsty. That is a real need, and it’s a need for individuals and families all over the world.

Let us take a step back, and consider actual, physical hunger. What is that like? I have had the blessing of steady employment at a decent rate of income for several decades now. I do not recently have the first-hand experience of going to bed hungry, with nothing to eat in my kitchen. Not a can of vegetables in the cupboard, not a package of food in the pantry.  

My friend Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks is the director of A Just Harvest, located right next to the Howard Street El station, in that congested and now gentrifying area on the far north side of Chicago. A Just Harvest is a nonprofit organization. Their summary statement is “Breaking bread, restoring community – every day. One meal at a time. One job at a time. One change towards wellness, peace, and justice at a time.”

After the Covid shut-down in March 2020, St. Luke’s Church was still receiving baked goods on Saturdays from Meier’s Bakery. Except, the men’s residence at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston – where I donated the baked goods – shut down, too. That meant NO more deliveries or donations, for many months. I had to quickly pivot, and so I gave a quick call to my friend’s organization, A Just Harvest. Part of their outreach is a food pantry; an industrial-service kitchen that provides a complete hot meal for free, between noon and 2 pm, 365 days a year. That is every day, even on bank holidays and major holidays, when other service centers are closed.

The Community Kitchen was overjoyed to hear about all the baked goods! So, for each weekend for over a year, I would take the baked goods from Meier’s on Waukegan to the Community Kitchen after church on Sundays. Until, Meier’s sadly closed for good in April 2021.

It is a marvelous thing to share our resources with others who do not have enough. That is part of what our Lord Jesus was getting at!

Yet, Jesus also mentioned “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” That adds a whole deeper layer to being hungry and thirsty. (as if regular “hunger and thirst” were not significant enough!) Yes, many people who followed Jesus were very hungry. They needed a secure food source. But, many people in Jesus’ day were also hungry for justice.

“One understanding of “righteousness” is justice. God’s justice means we make sure everyone has what they need. When we partner with God to bring justice to the earth, we are working toward a world where living things live in right and healthy relationships.” [1]

I know that sometimes, people get really caught up in their own lives, their family challenges, their health problems, and yes, financial difficulties. It’s really hard to focus on other people and their deep needs when you or I have some very deep needs of our own.

The same was very true in Jesus’s day, as well as all the times in between the first century and the 21st. We have talked about this before, how a huge crowd gathered around the Rabbi Jesus, and He saw their hurts and pains and cared for them in all kinds of ways. Yes, Jesus physically healed many! And yes, Jesus also saw each and every individual as worthwhile, as blessed, and as created by God.  That is a big reason why He preached about God’s kingdom, where there is abundance for all. More than enough honor, food, money, love, power and resources for everyone to thrive.

“A lot of things were not right for the people listening to Jesus. In that time, some people had a lot of money and power. They used what they had to dominate other people. Some people were poor and felt powerless. Jesus speaks here to the people who feel that ache for a better world—God’s kind of world. Jesus knows their hearts are hungering more and more for relationships and systems to be fair and right. Just like we need food to live, we need love, hope, and healthy connections with others. Jesus understands and cares about all these needs.” [2]

Bringing in God’s kingdom is not just a task for our Lord Jesus. No! He has given that task to each of us, to each of His followers. That is what the Beatitudes are all about. It’s a commission, a charge for all of us, to go out into our own communities and put these tasks to work. Each idea from our Lord Jesus, each and every day.

We can even call the Beatitudes directives from God. Yes, each Beatitude holds a personal blessing, and each Beatitude holds a direct charge or task for each of us to complete. When we look at this list of blessings from God in this way, it can be incredibly daunting! Yet, with God’s help, all things are possible.

We all have the opportunity to fight for justice in many different ways. Are there particular issues that you and your family engage in? Do you hunger for environmental righteousness? Racial and gender equality righteousness? Food security righteousness? Senior care righteousness? Employment righteousness?

If every person in this world knew what it was to truly “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” there would be no danger of fighting or war, no need to fear bombs or muggings or name-calling or any other destructive behavior. Herein lies the way to true peace and justice on a horizontal plane, with our fellow humans, and true fellowship with God, on a vertical plane.  

I ask again: what would Jesus do? How would Jesus bring about justice in a tangible way? Go. Do that. And, be blessed, for yours is indeed the kingdom of heaven.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(Thanks to illustratedministries.com for their excellent Summer 2022 family Sunday school curriculum on the Beatitudes. I will be using this curriculum all summer as source material for a summer sermon series on the Topsy-Turvy Teachings of Jesus!)

[1] Illustrated Ministries, Curriculum for Summer Sunday school family series, “The Beatitudes.” Summer 2022.

[2] Ibid.