Sunday 16 February 2025
Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."
Background
Jesus came down from mountain after praying all night and chose the 12 apostles and addressed this teaching to them.
Imagine him looking them in the eye and inviting them to reflect on their experience of being with him over the last days: they had seen a leper, a paralytic, a man with a withered hand and many others healed. Such people would be poor and unable to take an active place in society because of their ill fortune.
Into this everyday life, which had extreme difficulties, the disciples have witnessed the kingdom of God coming close, bringing hope and joy where there had been hopelessness and despair.
Ponder the last few days and the people you have encountered. Some will be in the midst of unrelenting challenges.This teaching encourages us to know that such people, especially, are not abandoned by God, and that love, joy and hope are coming again for them.
What is ours to do (as disciples/apostles) to help nurture the seeds of God’s kingdom drawing near to them?
As you ponder how you've spent the last few days, you may have caught yourself or others self-congratulating on having good fortune and taking it for granted as something earned. But all shared human life on earth has ups and downs, times of abundance and of challenge.
Here Jesus teaches that to be blessed, happy, is to see ‘everything’ as gift dependent on God.
When everything is intractably awful, love can and will come again in God’s way and perhaps be deeply appreciated because it is surprising and recognised as God’s gift.
When everything is going well, and we have it all sorted and under control, be warned, your challenges and your woes will come!
Psalm One teaches about who is truly happy, blessed. It is the one who meditates on the guidance of God, day and night, and becomes like a tree that is planted by water which will yield its fruit in due season. Those who are wicked, on the other hand, who are a law unto themselves, self-sufficient (and think their blessing is thanks to their own abilities) will be blown like chaff when difficult challenges come to them.
To Ponder:
- Jesus said "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven." Bring to mind a challenging situation, and the sense of helplessness to change, control or fix it. Be present to that person or situation or to yourself.
- Jesus said "Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation." What do you take for granted and why and how might you express your gratitude?
- What have you learnt from your times of blessing and times of woe?
Prayer
Gracious God, like Jesus help us to spend long pauses in slow prayer, to listen to your guidance, so that in all circumstances we may enjoy your kingdom coming close to us and to those around us. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Jenny Ellis
Jenny is a supernumerary Methodist minister. She facilitates a mindfulness community based at her local surgery and also online. She also leads quiet days and contemplative study days. This year's series of online contemplative days entitled Beginnings will be based on the first three chapters of Genesis.