Epiphany
January 28, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. –Matthew 5:1-7

What does it mean to be blessed? The word used here from the Greek is makários (from mak-, “become long, large”) – properly, when God extends His benefits (the advantages He confers); blessed*. My house has ten-foot ceilings, even taller in the living room. A step ladder is a necessity even to change a light bulb. God’s blessings are a necessity in trying times, any time we are doing our best but the goal, while, crucial, seems out of reach. Jesus promises such blessings in the words of what are called the Beatitudes, the quality or state of being blessed**.

I like basketball and find it interesting that some of the most challenging games involve times when the opposing team is playing mostly substitutes. When a team knows what to expect having watched or played the opponent many times, it develops a plan of counter plays. When several subs play, chaos ensues. While the quality of the players is far from equal, the subs can win. The challenge is not to become part of the chaos.

We deal with chaos in life all the time. We become low in spirit, suffer real grief, prefer to work in the background, long for justice, and try to be merciful even when it is the last thing we want to do at that moment. God extends the benefits we need to make it through the chaos.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the patience and persistence we need to rest in your promise of hanging with us as we stretch to be your Body in our world today. Amen.

* Strong’s Concordance see at http://biblehub.com/greek/3107.htm
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/beatitudes

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.