Blessings and Woes

 What is the foundation of the world we live on and the life we live in? Is it the first story of Genesis which we talked about last Sunday, how God created everything and humans in their image and proclaimed it good and blesses it? Is it the second creation story of Genesis where Adam and Eve get kicked out of Eden and the world becomes cursed and we, as humans, as John Calvin would interpret that there is nothing good in humans and our only escape is to believe in Jesus? Maybe it is a little more nuanced of Ecclesiastes in that there is nothing new under the sun and what has been done before will be done again in endless cycles of mundane existence? Maybe it is the Psalmist today that says there are blessings and woes depending on how much we walk with God and honor the covenant? We talked also about the prosperity gospel last week as well that the world is here to enrich us and satisfy our needs and even our greeds. 

How we see the world and our purpose in it definitely makes an impact on how we live our lives and what are our priorities. However, how we see the world is not just a philosophical or theological exercise. For those of us who don't have to worry about our next meal, a place to stay, and a healthy enough retirement balance, we have options. For those who do have to worry whether here in America or some poorer country, it's mainly about survival, their family's survival, not which view of God and the world they decide works for them.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the writer of that gospel casts Jesus as the new Moses, going up the mountain to deliver the new covenant, the new commandments which are the Beatitudes, starting with "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." All you have to do is be humble, and you are in. The writer, or writers, of the Gospel of Luke cast a different version of Jesus and the world that weaves a narrative right from the beginning when Mary visits Elizabeth and proclaims, "The rich will be cast down and sent away with nothing, and the poor will be filled with good things." Jesus preaching his first sermon on the Isaiah text, "The Spirit of the Lord has sent me to proclaim good news to the poor, release to the captives, freedom for the prisoners, and healing to the blind." 

Instead of going up the mountain, Jesus is descending to a level plain where they are all equal. All are being healed because of the power flowing out of him, which may be the Spirit and it may be love. Then, then Jesus just doesn't proclaim the Beatitudes of blessings, but he throws in a equal amount of woes. But first, Jesus doesn't say who is or isn't in the kingdom, Jesus here proclaims that those who are poor, those who are hungry, those who weep, and those who are hated because they are trying to do the right thing are blessed. None of the 'poor in spirit' or 'hunger and thirst for righteousness' levels going on here, it is simply those who are poor and hungry are BLESSED and willed be filled with good things. And then turns around, right away, to say those who are rich, those who are filled, those who laugh, and those who are well-spoken of, will lose it all. And I am not just talking about Jeff Besos or Elon Musk rich building space ships, but if we have a quarter laying around our house that we don't have to use to buy food or pay rent, we are richer than 94% of the world's population. 40% of Americans don't have $500 in savings to help them if they need new tires for their car or a trip to the doctor if they are sick. For "Woe to you..." says Jesus, "Woe to you who are rich, who are filled, who are laughing, who have people speak well of you" for that will be taken away, gone, and you will be weeping and are just a false prophet. 

There is much that should make us uncomfortable and a lot to unpack. Let me start first with Jesus is not talking about the afterlife, whether we are going to heaven and hell. Jesus, here, is talking about the life we are living now, and the acknowledgment that we don't control the world and we will have good days, good years, and bad days and bad years. Jesus, here, is refuting the prosperity gospel that is found in the writings and theology of the Hebrew Bible and those of that day, saying what is said today, "Believe the right things, say the right prayers, buy into this program, and it shall all be yours." So Jesus is calling out that the poor people aren't worthless and lazy, but they are seen, they are loved, and God's kingdom is about lifting them up and filling them with good things. 

We, in our church and community and nation, should not so easily or quickly let ourselves off the hook and try to place ourselves in a good place. We shouldn't beat ourselves up either, but we should acknowledge that we didn't pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, that because of our family, community, nation, color of our skin, and being a part of mainstream America, we have privileges and opportunities that many in this world, and in our nation have not. Not that we didn't work hard for what we have and the life we have built, but the system is built to help us. 

Jesus is preaching to those who are under occupation of a foreign government. Jesus is preaching to those who have no means to build a better life. Jesus is preaching to those who are gaming the system for themselves and not worrying about their neighbors, their community, and God's children. 

I think this church (First Congregational of Grand Marais UCC) believes in the goodness of creation. I think this church believes that love is the most powerful force in this universe. I think this church believes that we, who we are and what we have, is to help proclaim the kingdom where all are on a level playing field, that those who are without should receive, that those who weep should be filled with joy, and those who are seen as outsiders, as protestors, as justice-seekers by society are those who will be given the best seat because they are following Jesus and the prophets of old. Let us continue on this journey and doing the work of the Kingdom, the Spirit, and of God. Amen