Blessed Are You - Matthew 5 - Epiphany 4A

Blessed are You

Tony E Hansen

Sermon Based upon Matthew 5: 1-12, Psalm 15, Micah 6:1-8

Opening Prayer

When you walk into the halls of Chicago Theological Seminary, along the floor is imprinted the words from Micah 6:8, “ …to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God…” That is to remind us of what is good and what we are called to do as followers of Christ and our Creator.

To do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly…

Think about that. You have often heard me refer to doing church; To be the church. 

We can not just say we have faith and have Christ in our hearts, when we don’t match our actions and words. They work together.  You don’t have to be called to preach or to ministry, but you are called to love, you are called to walk with God (not against).  

That Beloved is not easy. We know because that requires of us to be mindful of not only ourselves but those around us - and even those we don’t agree.

That is however, as the psalmist describes, to “…do what is right and speak the truth from heart…” not slander, not throwing shade or being mean to people.  No exceptions.

Yes just because they wear a particular cap or have a brand of clothing or even if they have clothing, we are to treat people with dignity and respect.

Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount shares similar blessings that we read in Luke from the sermon on the leveling place/plain. 

It is interesting that the lectionary puts Micah next to this sermon. When I think about it perhaps, Jesus may have had some inspiration from Micah for his teachings.

This is one of my favorite texts in the whole Judeo-Christian scripture.

Why?

It is the pinnacle teaching of Jesus that tells us that we are blessed. He does not condemn and does not point fingers even.

Blessed are you who are merciful, who are peacemakers, who morn, who are lost and hurting. Who among us isn’t in that list? That means that Jesus tells us “Blessed are you.”

Yes. Blessed are you. What does that mean ? “Blessed.”

Something is bestowed upon you: a feel, a wonder, a grace. Jesus calls you holy. Jesus calls you sacred.

Wow! You are holy and sacred. 

Why? That isn’t to prop up egos or that you suddenly have some mystery solved. Jesus reminds the blessing is because we persevere. We walk with mercy and forgiveness. We walk humbly with our Creator and do justice with love for kindness.

There are plenty of bad anything we could focus our attention, but that is a rather pessimistic view. That kind of focus also distracts us from what is possible. Perhaps, that is part of our problem; focusing upon the wrong things. 

We know the world is broken and there are plenty of bad actors around us. Yet even then, we show kindness; we show mercy; we show love. Hold your horses folks, they too are children of God.

Maybe our mercy and love might reveal some cracks in the bad. For too long, good people get put down, shoved aside, or simply forgotten. Good people arent just the wealthy and connected. Good people with gifts are regular people who go about life in our various ways. Jesus says that you are blessed. Jesus sees you and gives you a path.

These beatitudes (blessings) aren’t just cute little precepts but a way of living. We will morn loss. We may worry about homeless and hungry people, and we want peace. More importantly, we do something to help. We can help via organizations like UBFM or Joppa. We can help the food pantries.  We can help by being the peace that our world so desperately needs. 

And when people slander and bemoan us for doing those things; being merciful, kind and peaceful, there is a sacred place for us and we don’t have to wait for death to find it.  For it is right here and now. 

When we do justice, walk with humility, show love, we find that the "kingdom of heaven" is already here. It has always been here. And you, Beloved, who are blessed, this place is waiting for you to call home.

The kingdom of heaven is not some far off abstract place. It is very tangible; it is quite reachable because it is here. God is here and now.

How can you say that Tony with all of the violence, the shouting, the guns, the threats, the mischief? 

I cannot deny those exist. I can say that I can take care of my part in this world and how I work with people. That is the path Jesus lays out for us here. 

When we do this path, we find there is opportunity and our anxious worries reduce. Our fears may subside because we have the Spirit as our guide.

 

We have grace bestowed upon us; we have been blessed with gifts. With those gifts, we can and we should walk humbly and with love in our hearts.

Blessed are you who are poor, who morn, who are meek, who hunger for righteousness, who are merciful, who are pure love, and who are peaceful. 

Blessed are you who wander, and who wonder. Blessed are you who ask questions and admit we don’t have all the answers. Blessed are you who listen and allow room for God to work. Blessed are you who have faith and lean into that faith during good times and bad. That is to truly lean into our faith, not as a transaction, but as faith that we will be lifted while acknowledging that we have truly been blessed.

You are children of God,\; you have been given gifts; and the kingdom is waiting for you to discover. 

For that we say thanks be to God.

Amen

Walking in Darkness - Matthew 4 - Epiphany 3A

Walking in Darkness

Tony E Hansen

Sermon based upon Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27, Matthew 4: 12-23

Opening prayer

Lately, I have been trying to think of ways that I can help folks that are definitely in the crosshairs of an administration that is bent on injustice and revenge.

I could sit idly by and watch things unfold because they don’t yet affect me personally. Still, what happens when they do?

Jesus learns of John getting arrested, and then turns to proclaim the same verse that John uses from Isaiah. Jesus didn’t just cry and turn away, but instead begins his own ministry that is going to make plenty of anxious people nervous as well as plenty of people healed.  Jesus became the light and carried the torch that John held. 

Throughout our lives, we see all kinds of people walk in darkness. They may have met Jesus; may have prayed to Jesus; may have offered souls to Jesus. Yet, the darkness persists; many walk in darkness despite seeing a great light. 

People often choose to walk in darkness because it is familiar and mistakenly safe. What is safe about walking in darkness? Safety is not the point of following Christ even. Familiar is not the point of following Christ. 

Many have given their lives following Christ, and we cannot underestimate that cost. We cannot sweep that under the rug or be like a lonely penny that was forgotten between the couch cushions. We cannot follow Christ and think that all is going to be well. For Christ tells us to reach out and to speak up against injustice, tyranny and falsehoods. For Christ knows what kind of suffering there can be for speaking out against injustice and speaking for a God that forgives. Look at the cross!

That means we cannot just sit on the sidelines or watch from the cheap seats of the stadium.  The game, if you will, involves our neighbors, our friends, and our family. That means we cannot just watch as bystanders to do nothing about the injustices that are taking place. 

We cannot just simply wish it away. Even more, soon enough, it will come knocking on our doors.

We, therefore, have to reach into our faith for strength and help those who are fighting for us and with us. 

As one commentator mentions, we don’t have to be the face of the fight, but we can help those who are there - delivering hot chocolate and coffee. We can be ones who provide assistance so those who choose to be the face have our actual support - beyond just hopes and prayers.

Otherwise, we sit on the sidelines - in darkness waiting for a light - waiting for “deliverance” that has already been offered.  

Yet, God has delivered us and given us light along with a mission, a call. A call to be something more than nothing, to be more than empty, to be more than slaves to material and computer systems.

“Repent for the kingdom has come near… Follow me and I will make you fisher of people.”  What is your answer?

Sit on the sidelines or in the stadium, heckle and do nothing? That isn’t what Christians are called to do.  This isn’t a football match, a sports ball moment, where people might go home a little disappointed because their team didn’t win.

Brene Brown says that “if you are not in the arena getting [butt] kicked on occasion, I am not interested in or open to your feedback. There are a million cheap seats in the world today filled with people who will never be brave with their own lives but will spend every ounce of energy they have hurling advice and judgement at those of us trying to dare greatly.”  

She goes on to lament people with criticism and cynicisms that have the effect of doing nothing to help those who are trying. Hecklers are not brave or daring nor are they helpful.

This is life, and we as Christians, this calling from God reveals to us our purpose. A purpose that is not silent in the face of injustices, murders and over-reaching government. Our purpose is to get in the arena and yes your butt might get kicked a bit. When we are not silent, we are doing the work Jesus laid out for us. 

Then is when you see the light. Not just as a metaphor but reality that brings God into your being and your way of thinking - because God reveals to us and for us.

We need to see the light made for us and through that light have courage in our faith to speak up. 

We then have courage to say we are truly followers of Christ.  

If the Lord is your light and salvation, why do you fear? Because this world has people and many don’t reveal God’s promise to us. 

Why should you be different?

Safety? How safe will you be when you are the last one left? 

The Lord will deliver and the Psalms tell this.  If you are looking for encouragement, look in these many verses because people have questions, whined, and even got mad at God for what is happening in their life journeys. Yet, when we talk to God, when we make space for God to work, they and we can find refuge and salvation in our faith that God does, in deed, help us and guide us.

Let us not continue to walk in darkness, not be on the sidelines, not in the cheap seats hurling vicious nothings. Let us be the work of God in our community and in our lives so that people witness the good of God and justice of God before an insatiable government and destructive ego.

Be the face of justice, empathy, and love that God wants you to be. Repent and See the light!

Thanks Be to God

Do You Hear God - Acts 10 - Baptism of the Lord - Year A

Do You Hear God?

Tony E Hansen

Reflection for Acts 10: 34-48, Matthew 3: 13-17, Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 29

Opening prayer

Happy Epiphany !  God reveals through the Spirit and Jesus to you and me.

For John, this is a baptism of repentance (not a Christian baptism). Why does Jesus want this? 

Repentance is to turn or a conversion. A conversation from what was to what one can be or is called to be. 

We know that Jesus and John have a connection.  Perhaps John has helped form Jesus’s ministry as a teacher. We all think that Jesus just showed up one day with wisdom and God, but Jesus had friends, mentors, and parents with whom he trusted and gained knowledge and lessons.

This was a moment that Jesus asks John to baptize him - to convert into something that he is called to do. It is Jesus accepting what he is called to do - on a road that is going to be brutal and painful. Yet Jesus accepts this call and has faith in the Spirit to guide and teach even more.

What happens here is obvious. We witness God and hear God here.  Did you hear God? What did God sound like?

When you go about your day, we may say we believe in God but here, God makes a proclamation to all, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

This is a revelation and manifestation.

The voice of the God, according to the Psalm, is powerful, upon the waters, flashing flames and breaking cedars. God’s voice could be quiet or like thunder.  Nevertheless, God is present and made known. 

The experience of baptism, whether a young child or grown adult, can bring tears of joy to those who witness and to those baptized. When I held a child for baptism, I would rays of light upon the sanctuary. The experience doesn’t need thunder, but it does bring the heart of the Spirit into our lives. It brings us to new life; a new way of living.

The Spirit brings peace and forgiveness. Isaiah tells us the Spirit calls upon us to be servants; to “bring forth justice to the nations.” 

In an anxious time we live today, that is so eagerly needed with rising violence, government chaos, and shaking of the world order. Nothing is familiar and everything is questioned - even actual revealed truth.

Thus Epiphany reminds us that God reveals to us and manifests for us to see and to witness as actual revealed truth. 

Yet, there are; there will be doubts and questions:  What is being revealed and why?

Peter summarizes the ministry of Jesus and tells us in Acts that Jesus preaches peace and shows no partiality.

Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed… for God was with him.”

Peter reminds us that judgement belongs to God rather than broken worldly systems. Forgiveness is brought forth in his name and freely given so that we might heal from the damage done by broken worldly systems.

Yes, Isaiah reminds us we are called to be servants for this forgiveness, for justice and of the Spirit. Through covenant we are given a light and powerful abilities to help people who doubt, who do not see or witness for themselves to witness and to see. Because God lives in us and that Holy  Spirit guides us.

The Spirit pours out to all for “can anyone withhold the water for baptizing ..who have received the Holy Spirit…?”

Why do we think differently or find ways to exclude? They grew up on the other side of the tracks. They don’t speak our language. They don’t wear our fashions. They disagree with our beliefs.

Excuses, excuses…

We are so busy coming up with excuses we forget to love. We forget that love comes to us abundantly - not for us to hoard but to reveal and to share with others just as God does for us.

That is Epiphany in our lives, in our hearts, and in our attitudes. Let the love of God reveal to you and be with you! Reveal God’s love through you. No partiality.

Do good, let go of judgment, seek justice for all, be with the oppressed and let God be with you.

Hear God say to you,

Beloved, you are children of God, with whom God is well pleased. 

For that we say, 

Thanks Be to God