Feb 17, 2019               Blessings and Woes                                

Before we begin this morning to look at Luke’s version of the beatitudes, I would like to note a few things about the Gospel of Luke that are important background information for understanding them.  

First, The most important thing is that Luke is the Gospel for the poor. Luke reveals a kingdom of God in which the roles of the greedy and poor are reversed. You might have noticed that I didn’t say rich, because being rich in itself is not evil. However, more often than not, the way in which people become rich in wealth involves greed, and a desire to accumulate more than is necessary for living.

For instance, businesses that hire illegal workers when they have legal workers who want the jobs or save money by bypassing safety regulations. Or pharmaceutical companies that increase the price of insulin pens 10 fold because that’s what the market allows. Or internet companies that are fraudulent, or that sell items for 4 times their cost on other sites, hoping you won’t shop around.

The Jesus of the gospel of Luke tells us, that when the kingdom of God comes into being among us, if we believe in Jesus Christ, and live according to his will, then the majority of poverty, which is caused by greed, will be no more.

Second, I mentioned a few weeks ago, that Jesus reading of Isaiah in the Synagogue was essentially Jesus announcing the Jubilee year. Now we don’t know if Israel ever had a Jubilee year, but it’s in the law. At the end of 40 years, everything resets. Think of playing monopoly, at the end of the game, when one person has all the money, then the board is wiped clean, all debts forgiven, everyone goes back to their family homestead that they lost, or had taken from them, and everyone starts with a fresh slate. 

Now I realize this isn’t capitalism, nor is it socialism, or any other ecomonic theory. The purpose of the Jubilee year was to offset the original sin of human greed that has been present in all human societies since the beginning of time, hence the reason Luke focuses on this message throughout his Gospel. Not as an economic theory, but as a way of living.

Third, Luke’s gospel is not given on a mount, it’s given on a plain. It does not come down from above, but is announced in the valley, amidst the people. Think of it this way, Luke’s gospel is a grass roots movement, proclaimed to the people, resonating among them, and when they live it, it is meant to change people’s lives and the world in which we live.

Fourth, Luke’s gospel is not a spiritualization of Jesus message, while Matthew talks about the poor in spirit, Luke talks about the poor. Matthew talks about those who hunger for righteousness, Luke talks about those who are hungry. Matthew talks about seeing God, Luke talks about those who weep and those who laugh. In some ways, Luke’s Gospel is the “just the facts” version of the Gospel.

So where does all this get us. Well, it’s clear to me, that Luke’s Jesus is telling the people what will happen if they enact the jubilee year in the living of their lives. The poor will be restored to their homes in the kingdom of God – as in ancient Israel. Those who are hungry will be fed, those who cry now will again laugh and rejoice. Those who spoke of the Jubilee year and were persecuted by the greedy and wealthy for suggesting such a thing, will be revered.

And those who were greedy will lose what they have, those who had all they wanted will go without, those who laughed at the troubles of the poor will cry, and those who people spoke well of for the sake of wealth, will now be spoken of shamefully.

So where does that get us. First I want to emphasize the message of hope for so many of us who are struggling with our own debt, our own hunger, our own grief and sufferings in life. Jesus announces that through faith in him, that he will help us to overcome these. Second, I want to emphasize the message of judgement that will befall those who are greedy. That a life filled with the pursuit of wealth, indulgence, and entertainment, will ultimately lead to a reversal of fortune. Third, I would emphasize the grassroots nature of Jesus sermon on the plain, this is a call for us to live a new life in our relationships with one another, to practice forgiveness, compassion, and care for one another, to change our lives now, and Jesus promises will change the world to come. is something that no politician, political party, or government can do, on through the faith of those who believe in Jesus Christ can bring this about.

And that is what happened two thousand years ago, small Christian communities, caring for the poor, the widowed, the orphan, feeding the hungry, and helping those in need. This movement eventually took over the Roman Empire, and it has time and time again throughout history, helped those suffering from poverty and oppression to find freedom in their lives.

And that’s the good news of Jesus Christ! Amen.