Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Text: Luke 6: 17-26
Pastor Jean M. Hansen
I grew up in the Great Plains of western Nebraska; the Sandhills surrounded the town in which I was raised. If you’ve never been in that part of the country, it’s difficult to describe the miles upon miles of nothing but rolling hills, tall, flowing grass and a huge horizon. The landscape speaks of openness; it’s nearly impossible to sneak up on someone or hide in such country.
That’s what I think of when I recall that today’s Gospel lesson is called the “Sermon on the Plain”, in contrast to the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew’s Gospel in which another version of the beatitudes is found. The “Sermon on the Plain” is much more direct that the one on the mount, the most obvious difference being that it includes not only a list of those who are blessed, but also those who will be in a state of woe. And, of course, the geography is different.
In Luke, Jesus came down with the disciples to “a level place” and stood in the midst of a massive crowd, many of whom had come to be healed, and to hear him proclaim good news. Amazing things happened that day; the text says that people with unclean spirits were cured, and all were healed, as power came out from him.
His presence among them on that level place leveled out the differences between them; they all had the opportunity to experience God’s grace breaking into a broken world through Jesus. And even though it was not the wide-open Great Plains, Jesus leveled with them, and with us, from that level place.
Did he really say that the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the hated are better off than the rich, the full, the happy and the respected? How should we who are more rich, full, happy and respected than not understand these leveling words?
While standing in a broken, level world, Jesus was describing the future reality of the Kingdom of God and of our present lives. He hoped, I think, that the rich could not hear that they would be sent away empty without grasping that they need to share their riches now, in this present age. In other words, while we celebrate the future provision of and reward for the poor and hungry, as followers of Jesus we must also recognize that there’s a present-tense expectation in this passage. That’s especially true if we happen to be rich, full, happy and respected now. If we ignore those who are suffering now, reasoning that they’ll receive their reward later, then woe to us.
But wait a minute; aren’t we all saved by God’s grace? Do we have to be poor, hungry, sorrowful and hated to be a part of God’s kingdom? Of course not. But, being saved by grace and empowered by the Spirit, means that, like Jesus, we are on the side of the least, the last, the lonely, the rejected, the oppressed and the excluded. If that’s not the case, then woe to us for missing out on the blessings that accompany being who God has called us to be, and woe to us for not contributing to bringing the world closer to what God intended.
Of course, commitment to doing God’s will means clashing with the authority structures of this present world, and even with Christians who interpret gaining power and wealth as indicating the blessing of God, a concept that is contrary to scripture if the power and wealth are used primarily for one’s own benefit.
Here’s something interesting to consider … could it be that regardless of our physical or financial or mental status in this world, those who are committed followers of Jesus become more and more like those who Jesus describes as blessed in today’s Gospel reading?
Here’s what I mean; while we may not be poor and hungry, we also are not extravagant and self-centered, but use our time, talent and money to meet needs beyond our own, discerning how to best do so. We are sorrowful now because we find much to lament in our world. We are hated and excluded because we are counter-cultural; we are reviled and defamed because we live the grace we’ve received and will not compromise on that stance. And, in all this, there is reason to rejoice and be glad.
In a commentary I read this week, the author floated the idea of combining the beatitudes of both the Gospels of Luke and Matthew and considering what someone who has those traits would be like. Here’s what I came up with, using some of commentator’s ideas and my own as well.
This person would be consistently kind in speech and actions, and quick to reach out to help, but thoughtful about how to do so best. This one would be non-judgmental and non-self-centered, shunning the limelight. Yet, this individual would be courageous, defending those who are mistreated and powerless and would work for justice, especially for the oppressed. Seeking peace in personal relationships, in one’s community and in the world, would be important to that person.
Can you imagine someone who would always be hungering and thirsting for something better for others? Some would see this individual as a nuisance or a troublemaker, or naïve and unsophisticated, and reject or slander them because of it. This person’s life would be centered on being a follower of Jesus.
Finally, this child of God would be imperfect, fall short, be forgiven and empowered to continue living a beatitude existence. (1)
Even as I wrote this, I thought, “Who could be this person?” and wondered if such a description might be discouraging. But the fact of the matter is that we all can live the beatitudes, in different ways, at varying times and degrees.
We all are in the game, so to speak, and Jesus has leveled the playing field. At the same time, he levels with us about what will bring blessings to our lives and world, and what will create woe for us and others. May we be among the blessed. AMEN
“Luke 6:17-26 Commentary” by Scott Hoezee, February 17, 2019, www.cepreaching.org