The Beatitudes are one of the best-known teachings of Jesus. On one hand I think that is a very good thing; obviously these are crucial statements. BUT the problem of being so familiar with these words is that they often fall on deaf ears.
One of Kevin’s mom’s favorite anecdotes kind of gets at the point I’m trying to make. When Kevin was a young boy, he was often engrossed in the pages of a novel or in a problem-solving computer game. The time would come for dinner or chores and his mother would say something like we’ve all said to our kids: “Kevin! It’s time for dinner. Please go wash your hands and set the table so we can eat.” Never having received eye contact from her son, my mother-in-law would ask him, “Kevin, what did I just ask you to do?” With his nose still in a book, Kevin would repeat, verbatim, her instructions. “You said it’s time for dinner and to go wash my hands and set the table so we can eat.” “Ok,” she’d say as she walked back toward the kitchen.
The problem was, the words didn’t translate into action. There Kevin remained, as if the words had gone in one ear and out the other.
I have a feeling this is the problem most of us church-folk face when we hear familiar passages of Scripture. Some of us might even be able to quote along with the reading, feeling super good about our knowledge of God’s word.
But have the words of Jesus translated into action? Or have they gone in one ear and out the other?
I have long been intrigued by the Beatitudes, spending time reading books and commentaries, and in my own prayerful reflection on what in the world these nine “bless-eds” amount to. I learned something new in my studies this week. When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, the verb-tense He chose to use with the Beatitudes is the Indicative. Whether you consider yourself a lover of grammar and language or not, I think we could all use an explanation as to what the Indicative is and why it matters here.
In the Greek, there are few different “modes” of verbs — the action of the sentence –and each one communicates something different to the reader or listener. (Like, whether they are stating a fact, expressing a desire, or giving a command.) Ok, so the indicative mode, which Jesus uses here in the Beatitudes is a way of presenting something as real or certain, in other words — what he’s about to say is an objective fact.
Why does that matter here? Well, if Jesus had used a different mode, the Imperative, he would have been communicating a command or a directive to the people listening. If he had used the Imperative, which he didn’t, he would have been telling us something like: “Do all you can to become poor in spirit. Make every effort to be meek and merciful. Don’t stop until you hunger and thirst for righteousness. You can earn God’s favor this way.”
But Jesus doesn’t deliver the Beatitudes in this way. Instead Jesus uses the indicative mode to teach us an objective truth. The Beatitudes are a way for Jesus to help us understand the Good News He came to proclaim, He wants us to get a glimpse of what God’s reality – God’s Kingdom — looks like.
“Friends, this is the way it is in the truest reality,” Jesus is saying. “In the Kingdom of my Father, these are the types of people who are honored and included. Listen closely. The blessed ones are probably not who you’d expect. I’m trying to tell you that the ways your world runs things is completely the opposite of my Father’s Kingdom.
In our way of life, the ones who are poor in spirit — those people you look down on for being simpleminded and religiously un-sophisticated — they’re the ones who get it. Deep in their being they are part of my Father’s community.
The people who mourn — those whose spirits grieve with God’s Spirit at the state of our violent and unjust world — they will know the comfort of the fullness of our Kingdom.
The meek ones — those who don’t fight back, who refuse to jockey for power –they’re the ones who are the rightful rulers of the earth.
The people whose desire in life is always and only to live uprightly, to do the virtuous thing at all times — My Holy Spirit will fill them up to the brim with the desire of their heart.
The ones who never insist on their own way, who always let people off the hook? The merciful ones? My Father extends the same generous mercy to them when they mess up.
Those whose hearts are pure, the ones who live the same lives no matter who they’re with, the ones who have no pretense, who are genuine in all things – they have an “in” with God, a way of seeing my Father like most of you won’t experience until the fullness of our Kingdom comes.
Are you getting the picture? The Beatitudes are not a call to be a certain way or to earn favor with God. The Beatitudes are Jesus’ invitation to see humanity as God sees them, to be willing to overturn our ways of living and shopping and leading and electing, in order to help bring the Good News of the Kingdom right here and now. What if we saw things this way? What if we joined Jesus in blessing those who are considered ordinary or unblessed, the “sat upon, spat upon, ratted on” as Simon and Garfunkel said.
Let’s keep listening in to Jesus’ Kingdom Realities this time using the Message paraphrase:
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.“
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+5&version=MSG
How do you see the world? Are you willing to take off the glasses you’re wearing and trade them in for ones Jesus is prescribing in Matthew 5? Are you willing to ask God what Micah asked? What is your will? How do you want me to live? And then are you willing to do that, to live in right relationship with God and in right relationships with all of humankind and with all of the life which shares our planet?
If we want to join Jesus in bringing His Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven, then maybe we can begin by praying this prayer over ourselves every day –
O God
Prayer reproduced from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. A complete edition of the prayers is available though Augsburg Fortress [link].
Bring healing to all wounds,
make whole all that is broken,
speak truth to all illusion,
and shed light in every darkness,
that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ.
