There will be a football game tonight...The winning team will receive the Vince Lombardi trophy which is created by Tiffany's of New York. The Super Bowl was watched by an estimated 98 million people last year. It is a contest of superlatives: the fastest, the strongest, the most powerful, the most determined. Besides the game there will be enticing commercials which are usually unique and fun to watch. The commercials are quite a display of all the things in the world that are said to bring us happiness: cars, beverages, Doritos...
It is ironic that the designated Gospel reading for today is from Matthew 5 and is commonly called the Beatitudes, which mean blessing or happiness. What does bring us happiness?
The disciples and others had gathered around Jesus to hear his message. In Jesus' day as in ours, the marks of success were usually one's position in society, one's wealth, one's family, one's achievements.
Happy are those who have, and especially those who have the most! These are the folks who are considered blessed, who are in the spotlight.
Jesus however looks at his listeners and speaks of them being favored by God and he doesn't mention any of the usual terms of success. His list goes in a different direction because it deals with the heart and one's relationship with God and with others. Words jump out at us: poor, meek, thirsty, grieving, persecuted, merciful, peace seeking, pure.
Jesus is describing those who are part of his kingdom, those who are trying to follow him. This is their reality. This is our reality. He shares that God is with us whether our lives are empty or full. Even in brokenness, there can be blessing!
Let's look at each of these 8 sayings: what is it like to participate in God's kingdom? What is in store for those who look to God for everything?
A friend of mine shared an article about manor houses in England. (Think Downton Abby) One residence stood out among those featured. On the corridor walls were hung portraits of those who had been part of the estate. In this house, the portraits were of their servants. Through the years, generation to generation, the ones chosen to be honored were the ones who had served: the butlers, the maids, the gardeners. The Beatitudes are the hall of fame for God's kingdom, portraits of those who serve God.
As we look at the Beatitudes, are there ones that reflect your life?
-Honored are the poor in spirit: There is good news for those who see the emptiness of their lives, and their need for grace. The people who know how frail they are and so they put their whole trust in God. They will not be disappointed.
-Honored are those who mourn: there is good news for those whose hearts are broken by their own loss and the tragedies of the world. In their vulnerability, they know their need for God and will in turn receive strength, and deeper empathy for others.
-Favored are the meek: there is good news for those who realize who they are in God's eyes, who are unassuming and have humility that gives them power.
Henri Nouwen, an author and professor taught at Yale and Harvard. He left teaching and went to be a part of the Daybreak Community near Toronto, Canada. The Community is made up of folks with mental and physical handicaps along with those folks who care for them. Nouwen said that he experienced an identity crisis because people at Daybreak had not read his books, did not know his reputation or that he was famous. This forced him “to recognize his true identity.” His accomplishments did not matter. What was important is that he could give and receive love as a child of God.
-Honored are those who hunger for righteousness to prevail. There is good news for the one who yearns for suffering to end, and justice to come.
-Favored is the one who is merciful. There is good news for the one who sees what others see and feels what they feel, and responds with mercy. You will find others will show mercy to you.
-Honored are those who are pure in heart. There is good news for those who are earnestly seeking to know God and to know themselves, who do the right things for the right reasons.
-Honored are those who are the peacemakers. There is good news for those who restore relationships between people. They are reuniting God's family.
-Favored are those who are persecuted: there is good news for those who are treated badly for doing good. Their dreams will come true.
For the 1964 World's Fair in New York, an artist, Sister Mary Corita produced a banner which was 40 feet long and featured the Beatitudes. Amid all the advances of technology at the Fair, (some of the first computers were on display) her banner proclaimed the joys of God's kingdom. This is her translation which was written on the banner:
Happy are those who feel their spiritual need for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Happy are the gentle for the whole world belongs to them, Happy are those who hunger and thirst for what is right for they will be satisfied. Happy are those who show mercy for mercy will be shown to them. Happy are those who know what sorrow means for they will be given courage and comfort. Happy are the single-hearted for they will see God. Happy are those who make peace for they will be known as the sons of God. Happy are those who have suffered persecution for the causes of goodness for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
All of us have been invited to a party today, not necessarily a Super Bowl party, but a party with all who have responded to Jesus’ call to come and follow him. The Beatitudes show us who said yes to the invitation. I hope that we find ourselves in that company of famous and unknowns, of timid and brave hearts.
Barbara Lemmel is a UM pastor and she tells of driving her son Micah (who was 3) to day care. Micah was studying his reflection in the mirror on the sun visor. She played a game with him and asked, “Who is in the mirror? “Is it Daddy? Uncle John ? An elephant? Is it Jesus? You know whenever you look in a mirror you see Jesus a little bit. Jesus is always in you a little bit.”
Micah was silent as he pondered that. And then he said,“I need Jesus to be in me a lot.”
I would join Micah in his evaluation of our human condition. Micah also captured the essence of each of the Beatitudes: when we have compassion, when we are humble, when we are merciful, when we are peacemaking, when we are grieving, when we are ridiculed, when we are desperate to know God in every facet of our lives - then we are reflections of Christ! Living the Beatitudes helps us see our true identity.
Yes, there is a football game tonight. If you do watch the Super Bowl, I hope you have some of your favorite snacks and that you enjoy the game. When the cheering is over, the pizza is gone, and all the awards are given, remember to count your blessings. These are the blessings that lead to the greatest honors and the deepest joys in this life, a life that is centered on being part of God’s kingdom here on earth.
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