Are You Ready for a Blessing?

Are You Ready for A Blessing
Matthew 5: 1-12
Rev. Alan Claassen
November 2, 2008


Last Sunday, we reflected together on the response that Jesus gave to the question,
“Which commandment is greatest of them all?” Jesus responded by saying, ‘love God with everything that you’ve got and love your neighbor as yourself.”
As I thought about this response over the course of the last week, it seemed to me that to love God with everything that I’ve got, and to love my neighbor as I love myself, is to begin a conversation with God. In each moment, in each decision I have to make, in each observation, judgment, response I have for another person; in each moment where self-reflection comes into play, I can ask, “I am I giving all my heart, all my mind, all my strength and spirit to this moment?”
And rather than this being an overwhelming idea, it seemed to me that something is going on in that moment when we ask that question, have that conversation with God. It is to receive a moment of blessing, an awareness, a gift that God is also in that moment of self-reflection. When we engage God as a partner God is giving with a whole heart, whole awareness, whole strength, and wholly spirit.
There is in that moment of seeing ourselves as a reflection of God, that God sees God’s nature reflected in us.
It may be hard for us to imagine this. But that is exactly why we come to worship God, hear the Scriptures, sing the hymns, share our prayers, and receive communion together. Jesus knew completely what it is like to have an ongoing conversation with God and he shared that conversation, with his disciples. Jesus knew this presence of God so completely that he could see the improbable gift of blessing moments where we would think that we are down, out, cursed, forgotten, or given a challenge that is beyond our strength.
When we engage our whole lives in conversation with God, we bring a source of strength, insight, compassion, and courage into our lives. What would that sound like?
Matthew 5, verses 1-12. The opening words of the Sermon on the Mount as told in the Gospel of Matthew.
You have heard two readings of this passage already this morning. First in our call to worship and then from our morning scripture reading.
I would like to give us all another moment to immerse ourselves in these words from a holy conversation from Eugene Peterson’s translation of the Bible. His use of contemporary language and his own study of the meaning of the text can sometimes open provide us with new insights into Scripture.

“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

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.”

This is what can come of a sacred conversation with God, where we bring all of who we are, whoever and wherever we are, and listen to God who is still speaking, still loving, who is still creating this Universe.

Several years ago I heard a Fred Craddock, a preacher’s preacher, reflect on these passages, these Beatitudes. I remember that he observed that the blessings didn’t come at the end of sermon. The blessings didn’t come as a result of the hard work and discipline and service of the people. The blessings did not come as a reward for holiness. They were freely given.
He also observed that they didn’t fit our normal idea of when blessings should come to us. The people are told that they receive a blessing when they realize their need of God, when they are at the end of their rope, when they have lost someone or something that is precious to them, when they are called to speak a word that may bring them criticism from their community.
In moments of struggle, when we are faced with a moment of decision and response that calls for self-reflection,
and we turn it into a moment of God-reflection by asking, “Am I giving all my heart, mind, strength, and spirit to this moment?,
God responds with a blessing, “Be not afraid. I am with you always.”




What is God beginning in you now, through poverty, simplicity, loss, challenge, persecution, …
What is new in you in this moment?
Is there something that you need to let go of in order to receive the blessing of this moment where God is beginning something new?
Is the sacred conversation that is born out of self-reflection in a time of struggle going to reveal something new being born?
What is the meaning of resurrection for us at this time?
In you, individually.
In us, as a church?
In us, as a nation, as global citizens,
In us, as one species in an amazingly diverse and intricately woven creation of God?

Each of us has our own ongoing sacred conversation with God. We also have an ongoing conversation going on in this nation with the upcoming election. And we also have an ongoing conversation with the planet as the result of the economic meltdown that is taking place. The blessing in this moment, when it all seems to be falling down, is that we may be able to see the policies and practices of governments, financial institutions, and individuals caused that caused this crisis. And we may also be able to see that we have an opportunity to rebuild this nation based upon sustainable and environmentally conscience policies that will help us address the crisis of global warming which have avoided for so long.

Whether we are looking at our lives as individuals, or as a community, we can be engaged in a conversation with God that enables us to see where we move whole-heartedly.

A few weeks ago I summarized the message of the bible with three words, gratitude, humility and compassion. I think that I can summarize the beatitudes by saying
Blessed are those who know that they need God.
Blessed are those who know that our lives are the work of two wills, not one; God’s will and ours.
When we are engaged in an ongoing conversation with God, may we always be ready to listen for a blessing. And then be a blessing to others.
Let the people say:
Amen