During the Lenten season, members of Faith Lutheran Church have written our daily devotions. Today’s writer is Kathy Patrick.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Matthew 5:1-11
Blessed are you when nothing goes the way you expect, when no one expects you amount to anything much, when nothing about your life meets the world’s expectations for power, wealth, or status. When you expect nothing—and seem to amount to nothing—then you are blessed. Huh?
In this passage, as in so many of his teachings, Jesus turns our expectations upside down. By setting out blessings, Jesus implicitly names as sin the shimmering, glittering, empty promises of the world. Jesus’ blessings remind us of what is broken: he calls us to repent of making idols of the world’s expectations and our own. Jesus calls blessed the circumstances and predicaments in which we have no choice but to rely on God alone. And we tremble and flinch at his words, because this is not who we are.
Let us pray: Lord, help me surrender to your will for my life. Show me that “my” gifts are not mine, but yours. Remind me that “my” work is not mine, but yours. Bless me with the understanding that “my” life is not mine, but wholly and only yours. Give me the blessing of relying always, and only, on your love and your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
April 10, 2014 at 8:05 am |
God bless us every one: the meek, the poor in Spirit, those who mourn, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and ours too if we surrender to the Lord’s will for our lives.