Blessings and Woes

Jeremiah 17:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26

It has been said that America is a melting pot of diverse people from all over the world. Indeed, there are actually only a relative few native Americans living in America, and even these people are said to have come into North America about 30,000 years ago from Siberia. But, then, maybe that's long enough to be able to claim the distinction of being a "native American."

Yet, many other nationalities have come to these shores over the years, beginning with the Spanish, then the French, the Portuguese, the English, Africans, Irish, Germans, and many, many more. They have come from all over the world in their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. And we have meant one another. We live and work with each other. And, we even claim some of the same mythology and history, much of it taught to us in probably one of the most effective tools of the melting pot -- the public schools.

But, while it is true that America is a melting pot, we should also remember that the Church, otherwise known as the Body of Christ, is a melting pot, as well. For, indeed, the Church is composed of persons from the four corners of the world. And, while we may not always realize or appreciate it, by the power of God's Spirit, whenever we gather to worship God, we gather in the presence of the saints, assembled around God's throne. And we gather in the presence of all others, living and dead, from all over the world, who worship God, as well.

This is why it is ridiculous for some Christians even to try to segregate their churches in order to keep out races or nationalities of persons they don't feel belong. For if we ever told persons who are different from us to stay out of our worship service, we would certainly be denying God's presence, as well.

Now, I've gotten into this discussion, quite simply, because our gospel lesson for this morning mentions that as Jesus was teaching his disciples, a large number of people from Judea and Jerusalem, as well as a large group of people from Tyre and Sidon came to hear what he was saying. In essence, Jesus' ministry is described by Luke as casting an influence over a wide area, over Jews and Gentiles, alike, over people who even believed themselves to be opposites from one another, in many ways.

So, there they stood, as diverse as they were, very much like the Christian church is, today. Very much the way God wants us to be: diverse in our backgrounds, and, yet, one in the Spirit, and One in the Lord.

There are a number of occasions when this sort of experience comes to the surface as we worship. Going to Annual Conference, for instance, is an experience like this. As one attends sessions or worship services in Adrian one may look across the auditorium or chapel and see American Indians, Chinese, Koreans, African Americans, and many, many more -- all of them diverse, and yet, all members of the Body of Christ, all in need of the healing our Savior has to offer us.

Our gospel lesson even says that the people who came from this broad area of Palestine came to Jesus to be healed. Somehow, they were able to sense a sort of supernatural force emanating from Jesus' person. And, so, as they gathered around, and they reached out and tried to touch him, believing that by simply touching him they could be healed.

There are many people, today, who search for miracles, as well. Some persons go through life hoping for a lucky strike, that little bit of magic, that touch of paydirt that will take away all their problems and smooth the way for their journey through life. Some of these persons spend hundreds of their hard earned dollars a year trying to make this bit of fortune happen. They give their money to fortune tellers and astrologers, or they buy lottery tickets, or they go to the race track, and gamble it all away, hoping that their day might come. But, all too often, their hopes are dashed, and their money wasted. And even if they win, once in a while, their winnings in no way compensate for what they have lost over a period of time. Indeed, they would have done far better to have put their money into the bank. And, yet, they are driven by a desire for a miracle, the hope that someday all their problems may go away, the promise that the supernatural will touch their lives and make them special.

And there's not a thing wrong with this wish. This is what brought those people to Jesus as he sat with his disciples. And this is what has brought millions of others to Jesus over the centuries since that day. And, hopefully, this is what has brought us here, today: the desire for a touch of Jesus in our lives.

When I read the Bible I like to use my imagination to visualize what it must have been like. And as I read this account of all those people coming from all over to get that healing touch, I can imagine that some of Jesus' disciples must have wondered what else Jesus might have had to offer these persons. In fact, this happened several times, one notable example being the feeding of the multitudes.

But, Jesus knew what these persons really needed. Certainly, some of them may have come for something material, something physical. But, Jesus wanted to give them something far more important than that. He wanted to give them the kingdom of God. He wanted to give them spiritual satisfaction. He wanted to give them joy. And so he said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh."

Now, it is interesting to note that in this version of the beatitudes Jesus doesn't make any sort of spiritual interpretation of what he is saying. I mean, in the book of Matthew Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are poor in spirit." But in Luke he simply says, "Blessed are those who are poor."

In fact, there are many who believe that the simpler version is probably closest to what Jesus really said. And I think this is important, for when Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are poor," it puts a great deal of responsibility upon those who have much to share what they have. But, even more, these are words of comfort to those who have very little, because they shows them where God's heart really is.

As we look around our community, then, we need to be reminded that God's heart, is, indeed, with those who live in poverty; that God is concerned about those who are unemployed and really hurting because of the recession. As we consider Jesus' words of blessing to the poor, and to the hungry, and to those who are hurting, we are reminded that God certainly does love those who have troubles and woes; that God doesn't forsake us when we hurt, but becomes our advocate, instead.

The words of warning in our gospel lesson are to those who are rich in the midst of poverty. The words of warning go to those who are well fed in the midst of hunger. The words of warning go to those who laugh at the expense of those who cry. The words of warning go to those who have good reputations in the midst of their own hypocrisy.

As we look at those blessings and woes of Jesus, we would do well to ask whether it is the blessings or the woes that apply best to our own lives? Are we rich? Are we well fed? Are we entertained while others cry? Or, do we stand with that diverse crowd of persons from all over the globe, from the past and present, standing before God's throne in worship, who only want to touch Jesus to be satisfied? Amen.