Today’s Scripture

Psalm 1            Micah 6:1-8     1 Corinthians 1:26-31               Matthew 5:1-12

 

            “Blessed are they…”  Matthew 5:1

 

            There was one of those uninspiring New Year’s things that read:  “So What’s New?  Same Debts.  Same People.  Same problems.  Same job.  Same world..  “So, Who’s Happy?  I’m a year older.  I know I’ll not keep my resolutions.  I know after the party is over I’ll be back to the same old stuff next week, month, …”  My next appointment is with the income tax an.  Then the next stop is real estate taxes.  And in between in the dentist, doctor, doctor, dentist…” 

 

            All too often we take a look at the difficulties in our lives and they loom bigger than life.  The negative experiences overweigh the positive ones.  And then Paul writes us a letter as he does in 1 Corinthians, “remember what you were when you were called…not wise…not influential…not noble birth.”  Paul is reminding you that by yourself, you are a  nobody.  Today’s readings are getting pretty tough.  How can you be happy when this stuff is being thrown at you?

 

            But in all of the readings for today is the reason to be happy, to be glad, to be joyful.  Both Psalm 1 and Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 begin with the same phrase, “Blessed is/are…”  We are not to take the word blessed lightly.  It is the ultimate well-being and joy of those who share in salvation and the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, his son, our Lord and Savior.  One who is blessed is one who has received God’s mercies not just of this world, but for eternity.  Being blessed is something beyond our imagination, something beyond our understanding, and the basis of our faith in God, our faith in Jesus Christ, our faith in something we are unable to understand in this earthly environment but gives the greatest comfort, joy, and confidence because it is ours, it cannot be taken away by another, and is given unequivocally by God’s grace, by God’s almighty power, and in now way by any ability or action that any one of us may have.

 

            Many times someone will ask the Pastor to “bless” something.  I am always glad to receive that request.  But I cannot “bless” something.  What I as your pastor can do, is to ask God’s blessing or pronounce that what you have is God’s blessing to you as an example of his greatest blessing, the greatest joys in his presence eternally.

 

            Jesus goes up on the mountain and calls his disciples to him, and he begins to teach.  He calls you to his side and he teaches you his word, God’s word.  God’s word is truth.  Jesus’ word is truth.  These words today are truth.

 

            How can you be happy when you are poor, absolutely destitute in spirit?  How can you be happy when you are mourning?  How can you be happy in complete meekness as the things of this world are running rampant?  How can you be happy when you are hungry and thirsty? 

 

            We often hear ourselves say, “I have lived a good life.”  But as I have heard many Christians say this, I hear them say it in a context unlike what we are used to hearing it.  Some claim that having lived a good life means they feel they have done well.  What those in faith are saying is that their life has been good because of what God has given them.  They are content with the goodness of God.  Christians cry over the sad and disappointing times, and in times of grief and mourning.  But Christians know the good things of this life that God has given them.

 

            What those who have faith in Christ have greatest comfort in is knowing that it is not only the things of this world that we do not have real control.  Those who have faith in Christ know that he alone holds the forgiveness of sins and the blessing of eternal life with him in his hands.  Those are the hands that beckoned people to follow him.  Those are the hands that held little children.  Those are the hands that comforted those who mourn.  Those are the hands that brought healing to the sick, sight to the blind, speech to the speechless, and life to those who were dead.  Those are the hands that handed out the loaves of bread and fish to eat.  Those are the hands that cleared the temple of foolishness and selfishness and impure things.  Those are the hands that calmed the stormy waves.  Those are the hands that were pierced on the cross and shown again after the resurrection so all can now believe.  Those are the hands that, in them alone, you have eternal life.

 

            How can you be happy when you are poor in spirit?  You can be happy because a broken and contrite spirit God will not despise [Psalm 51:17].  How can you be happy when you mourn?  “I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow [Jeremiah 31:13].  How can you be happy even though you are meek?  “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace” [Psalm 37:11].  Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled as Jesus is the bread of life [John 6:35] and the water that Jesus gives becomes a “spring of water welling up to eternal life” [John 4:14].

 

            You can be happy because, “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him,” [Daniel 9:9].  You can be happy even in the darkest of hours as Job professed, “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God,” [Job 19:26]. 

 

            Jesus began his teaching and preaching ministry picking up from John the Baptist’s call to repent.  Jesus began his ministry by pointing that the kingdom is near.  In this beginning to the great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus answers the questions about that kingdom.  This is the Gospel at its fullest.  This is the gift in its completeness.  Yours is the kingdom.  It is a consequence of faith.  It is a gift, free and true.  It is not a reward that is earned, but a gift that is given.  And God gives it to you by the merits of Jesus alone.  Just as Psalm 34 tells us, “This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles,” [v. 6]

                        Amen.