Sunday 11/02/14 Freeville/Homer Ave
UMC’s
Sermon Title: “A Sermon from the Savior”
Old Testament Scripture Lesson: Psalm 34:1-10, 22
New Testament Scripture Lesson: 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:1-12
Friends,
brothers and sisters, welcome once again on this our All Saints Sunday, and
this the Twenty-First Sunday after the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost was that
day so long ago that the Holy Spirit moved like a might wind, and the Christian
Church was born. That day, Jesus’ disciples and the early followers of Christ went
forth preaching the gospel far and wide. The apostles and these early followers
of Christ, and all of us today, comprise the followers of Jesus Christ. They,
along with us, hold the title Christian, as all of us come together this
morning in our faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who have
served Christ then, both then, throughout history, and even now, are the people
that God has called to serve him, to serve his people, and to serve his church.
This morning then, we pause to take stock of the saints that have went before
us. The saints from this church, saints we knew on this earth, and the saints
of old. All of these men and women worked, toiled, and sacrificed, so that
people would know Jesus Christ. So that people would know the transforming
power that is found in Jesus Christ. That through Jesus Christ, we can have
life eternal, and can do all things.
You see the
saints, both past and present, speak of the power of God, and transforming
power of the risen Christ. This transformational power is why we gather for
worship here today, is why we have church, and is why we do all that we do. In
giving himself up on a cross for us, Jesus has offered us new life. This Sunday
morning then, we honor and we remember all those persons who have helped to
further the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who have helped to further bring peace,
love, harmony, and justice into a world that knows very little of this.
In this morning’s
reading from the gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus is true Jewish tradition sits
down and teaches his listeners. In this teaching lesson, or sermon, Christ
gives us yet another part of his gospel teachings. In fact, in this section of
the gospel, Jesus Christ is communicating to his disciples, his followers, and even
to us today, certain truths about God, about who he is as the Messiah, and
about how we are supposed to live in his image every day. This sermon that
Christ gives this morning is sometimes called the “Sermon on the Mount,” or is
sometimes called the “Sermon on the Plain,” or the “Beatitudes.” The Latin word
beātitūdō, translates in English to roughly mean “Happiness.”
The gospel
narrative of the “Sermon on the Mount,” or the “Beatitudes,” also shows up in
Luke’s gospel, and of course in Matthew’s gospel that I just read this morning.
In Luke’s gospel, Luke cited four beatitudes that Christ spoke, yet in Matthew’s
gospel this morning, we are given a list of eight beatitudes. Why the
difference you might ask? There are many theories to this discrepancy, such as
that Matthew added more “Beatitudes” that were missing from Luke’s version,
that Mathew created them, that Matthew took them from the Psalms or Book of
Proverbs, and etc.
Before getting
into the meat of this morning’s gospel reading though, I just want to make light
of the Psalm 34 reading from this morning, that encourages us to “bless the
LORD at all times,” as Jesus will say that certain types of people are “blessed,”
or “happy,” in his “Sermon on the Mount,” this morning.
In our reading
from 1 John this morning, John says, “See what kind of love the Father has
given us in that we should be called God’s children.” God loves all of his
children, and he asks us to love all of his children to. So onto the gospel reading for this morning then. Matthew writes
in 5:1-2 that, “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down
and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:.”
Now some
translations say what Jesus then says are “Blessed are,” but the translation
our church provides this morning, says “Happy are,” in line with the Latin
translation to English.
Christ then tells
us in Matthew 5:3, “Happy are the hopeless, because the kingdom of heaving in
theirs.” He then tell us in 5:4, “Happy are people who grieve, because they
will be made glad.” In 5:5 Christ says, “Happy are people who are humble,
because they will inherit the earth.” In 5:6 Jesus says, “Happy are people who
are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will fed until they are
full.” Christ goes on to say in 5:7, “Happy are people who show mercy, because
they will receive mercy.” In 5:8 Jesus says, “Happy are people who have pure
hearts, because they will see God.”
Then in 5:9,
Jesus Christ says, “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be
called God’s children. In 5:10 Christ tells us the last of the eight “Beatitudes.”
He says, “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous,
because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Christ then reminds us all in 5:11, “Happy
are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and
false things about you, all because of me.” Jesus tells us when this happens to
“Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven.”
So, powerful
words from the Messiah this morning, wouldn’t you say? A powerful “Sermon from
the Savior.”
Yet, I have to
admit I never quite got the “Beatitudes” up until recently. I mean after all,
do all of those things that Christ said in this “Sermon on the Mount,” actually
happen in our world every day? By this, I mean do the hopeless always feel
better? Do those who grieve always receive joy and blessing? Do people always receive
mercy when they give mercy? Do peace makers really inherit the earth? And etc.
You see, I
think that for me and for many others, we have read the “Beatitudes” and thought,
“Well that’s nice.” Maybe we then thought, but the world we live in doesn’t
work like that, so this more just wishful thinking then. Anyone here ever
thought this about the Beatitudes?
Here is the
thing though, and I didn’t know this until recently, when Jesus gave the “Sermon
on the Mount,” he was telling his disciples and early followers of his, the privileges
and also the demands of their position. Jesus wasn’t just speaking the “Beatitudes”
just into being, he was telling the disciples, his early followers, and us,
that God will bless all of these people in all of the ways that God has
promised, but, we have a role in this to. We have an obligation to protect the
weak, the defenseless, the widow, and the person who feels hopeless. You see
God’s promises are as solid and rock, but Jesus wants us to help those promises
be magnified and stronger.
In this way, we
are building the Kingdom of God here on earth, as we await the kingdom to come.
As we await Christ’s return. Until then, we are called to honor, protect, feed,
and pray for the “hopeless,” those who “grieve,” the “humble,” those who are physically
and spiritually “hungry,” those who show “mercy,” those who have “pure hearts,”
those who “make peace, and those who are “harassed” and oppressed for God’s
sake.
So this
morning my brothers and sisters, Jesus the risen Christ gave a sermon. This “Sermon
from the Savior,” is not only who are “blessed,” but it is how we are supposed
to safeguard, protect, and uphold those and all of God’s children.
In this way, I
challenge us all to have an attitude of being God’s love for others. On this
day, let Christ’s “Beatitudes” fill us, so that we can “Be” all of the things
that Jesus Christ has called us to be. Praise be God. Amen.
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