Rev. George Miller
Jan 22, 2023
Matthew 5:17-20
Today’s scripture is difficult. Some scholars wonder if Jesus said
this.
Some think Jesus is being snarky, making fun of overly anal religious
leaders who’d rather say than ‘do.’
What exactly is the point that Jesus is trying to make?
To attempt an understanding, we look at this in the context of what’s come
before and will come after.
After Jesus is tempted, he calls his 1st disciples, gives a
few sermons, heals many folk, and develops a fan base that follows him around.
He goes up a mountain, is joined by the disciples, begins to speak- “Blessed…”
“Blessed are you with broken spirits and wounded hearts. You have a place in God’s Kingdom.”
“Blessed,” Jesus says to this group of fishermen and net menders.
“Blessed are you whose hearts are heavy with sadness. It is the very essence of God to give you
comfort.”
“Blessed,” Jesus says to these brothers and sons who have worked long
hours on rough seas and under the scorching sun.
“Blessed are you who walk softly and live humbly. For the sky, the sea, the land will always be
your home.”
“Blessed is anyone who hungers for what is just, what is kind; they will feel
fulfilled and satisfied.”
Blessed, blessed, blessed. These
are not the words of man who has it all.
These are not the words of a man born in a royal court or the heiress of
a hotel corporation.
These are the words of a man who was born under controversy and hunted by
a king, someone who was famished in the wilderness, spent days surrounded by
the sick.
The fact that he has the audacity to call anyone blessed is beyond all
reason. Yet he does.
“Blessed are you who are merciful to others. Blessed are you who have a pure heart.”
“Blessed are you who find a way to make peace when the rest of the world
shouts ‘war!’. Blessed are you who are
hated for doing what is right.”
This stirring speech goes against all logic. Who feels blessed when their eyes fill with
tears?
Who feels blessed when human rights are stripped away? Blessed when they are lied about?
Maybe, there is another way to understand what Jesus is saying. Maybe there’s another word besides “blessed”;
another phrase we can use to understand.
What if the word is…loved? It
would sound like this-
“Loved are you who are dealing with a broken spirit. God’s heart has a place for you.”
“Loved are you who lost a loved one or worry about your husband, your
daughter, your friend. God is ready to
hug you.”
“Loved are you when you don’t let your ego get in the way and you care about
others. God’s nahalah is ready
for you.”
What if instead of “blessed” the word is “fulfilled.”
“Fulfilled are you who do justice.
God’s table is open to feed you.”
“Fulfilled are those who love kindness. The concern you show for others
will come back to you.”
“Fulfilled are those who have the heart of a child, God can’t wait to see
you.”
What if instead of “blessed,” the word is “welcome”?
“Welcome are you who do any thing, any time, to bring peace into creation. You are God’s Children.”
“Welcome are you who have been tormented, teased, abused, mistreated, targeted,
and lied about. For everything you see
from the floor to the ceilings, the sky to the earth, is yours.”
Blessed. Loved. Fulfilled. Welcome.
Are these not the very things every one of us long for?
Aren’t these the very things Jesus embodied throughout his ministry?
Blessedness, love, fulfillment, welcoming and being welcomed- aren’t
these the very ingredients of the Law and the Commandments?
When we slash away all the legalistic sounding rules, and slash away all that
sounds more man-made than God inspired,
when we slash away the worries over mildew or polyester blends,
isn’t it fair to say that what the Law and the 10 Commandments are really
about is –
love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.
As Jesus says in Matthew 22:40- “On these 2 commandments hang all the law
and the prophets.”
If Jesus says that love God with your entire being, and love your fellow
human beings are the very essence, the very key to the Law….
It makes sense that Jesus isn’t trying to erase the Law, discard the Law,
or dismiss the wisdom of the elders who came before.
Perhaps Jesus is saying “I have come to embody what the Law is about; to
show what it looks like when you live a life inspired by the Spirit of the
Commandments.”
Perhaps Jesus is saying “All those words you see written on pieces of
parchment are ready to become a living, breathing reality. Join me.”
If the Law is about loving God and loving neighbor, then the Law is about blessedness, love, fulfillment,
and welcome.
And since Jesus is ready to fulfill the Law, to show it in action, we are
going to witness what love, fulfillment, and welcome look like.
Today’s reading feels confusing, but when heard through the ears of
Heaven, perhaps it is simply Jesus saying “It’s time to put down the
instruction manual; let’s put what you learned into action.”
Perhaps Jesus is saying “It’s time to put away your study notes, let’s
see you live what you have learned, do what you know, show what blessedness,
love, fulfillment and welcome actually look like.”
What we have is the chance to walk with Jesus, to see what he does, hear
what he says, and to experience what it looks like when the Kingdom of God is
at hand.
Let us walk with Christ on the path before us. May we feel the earth, wind, rain, sea
celebrating as we take this journey together.
May we truly know, and truly live, as though we are indeed blessed,
loved, fulfilled, and welcome.
Amen and amen.
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