Friday 01 November 2013

Background

In the Gospel of Luke's account of the beatitudes, Jesusoutlines both the positive blessings of seeking the kingdom of Godand the negative woes of rejecting it. There are echoes here of theconsequences of building upon the firm foundation of rock, asopposed to shifting sands (Matthew 7:24-27).

The 'poor' in Jesus' definition includes those who are bothspiritually and material poor - ie those who are utterly dependentin every respect upon God. He is not romanticising material povertybut rather underlining that for those who have little, theirreliance on divine provision will bring the reward of a place inGod's kingdom. (verse 20). Likewise the hungry, both those who needmore food to live and those who hunger for justice (Matthew 5:6) will be filled in God's kingdom(verse 21) and those who weep, whether out of personal grief butfor a hurting world, will be joyous (verse 22).

The theme of joy is continued in verses 22- 23, even thoughJesus is describing persecution for those who follow him. HereJesus connects the experience of the rejection of the Old Testamentprophets to future blessings to underline that present sufferings,however painful, are part of a bigger story which will have avictorious denouement.

Jesus now turns to the bad news! In the obverse of the firstthree verses, he affirms that those who are currently rich and fulland carefree and feel themselves without need of God, will findtheir self-reliance has its own bitter rewards when the kingdom isconsummated (verse 24-25). Once again, Jesus places currentpopularity in the context of the reception afforded to the prophets(verse 26).

Self-reliance is contrasted sharply with the practicalself-denying nature of love that Jesus challenges his followers toemulate, even to those who hate them (verses 27-28), in practicaland self-less ways (verses 29-30). A practical governing principlein demonstrating my self-giving love, Jesus says (verse 31), is toafford others the same treatment you yourself would want.

To Ponder

• The idea of God's salvation has often been caricatured as 'piein the sky when you die', whilst others have responded that it ismore like 'cake on a plate while you wait'. Is it the future or thepresent reality of God's offer of salvation in Jesus Christ that ismore important to you and why is this so?

• "I can't enjoy anything unless everybody is. If one guy isstarving someplace, that puts a crimp in my evening", says WoodyAllen in the film Annie Hall. How do you balance joy at yourexperience of the beauty and creativity of the world God has madewith practical concern for it often being sinful, broken andhurting?