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Monday, February 12, 2007
Unexpected Blessings
Psalm 1; Luke 6:17-26
You don't have to read very far in any of the Gospels to see how freely Jesus turns the tables on traditional expectations. So it's not really surprising that in this week's story he pronounces some upside-down "blessings." Or maybe he's simply turning things rightside-up for once. In any case, he makes us think again about who's blessed and who's cursed, and why God's last word is always the best Good News.
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A couple of years ago Joanne and I went to a special showing of the classic silent movie "Greed." It chronicled the tragic story of a poor man and woman in the old West who did everything they possibly could to get rich. In the process they lost every vestige of kindness, all confidence in each other, and finally their very lives. Needless to say, their souls had gone to hell long before they breathed their last.
I remember this now because of a possible misunderstanding you could get from Jesus' singling out poor and marginalized people for special blessing while, in stark contrast, pronouncing woes on the rich and powerful among us.
Can't you hear a well-heeled person complain: "What do you mean?! I've worked hard to get where I am today. I made sacrifices to succeed. Why do you judge me for obeying the laws of business and economics, and reaping my just rewards? And besides, anybody who's willing to do the same will be equally blessed."
All things considered, who can argue with that?
Well. It all depends on which things you include in the consideration.
I believe Jesus is drawing a crucial line in the sand here. Actually, two lines that intersect to form a cross.
If you focus on the horizontal line, then the wealthy disclaimer works quite well. On a level playing field, all things being equal -- like good health, equal employment opportunity, fair business practices, and such -- virtually anyone can grow prosperous. In this material world, that's the way things work.
But if you ignore the vertical line, the spiritual link between heaven and earth, you'll never know what real blessings are.
Jesus says it this way: "Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your consolation." In other words, you're already paid in full on your investment. That's all you'll ever get. Material wealth minus Spiritual health equals Zero balance in the end.
Remember, though, it's just as easy for a poor person as for the rich to be greedy, resentful, totally materialistic. And lightning-quick to grab hold of worldly goods.
So Jesus calls every one of us to decide whose values are going to drive our lives: God's or the world's?
One commentator says Christ's "beatitudes" in Luke 6 promise every disciple three sure things: You will be completely fearless (God is for you and with you); you will be absurdly happy (God knows you and values you); and you will always be in trouble (God and you cut against the grain of the world).
The Apostle Paul, reciting a horrible list of the sufferings he's gone through in serving Jesus Christ, confided the secret of his tenacity this way: "So we do not lose heart... For this momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
When you've got everything that's good to look forward to, then you've really got nothing to lose here and now. And there's your bottom-line definition of a blessing.
posted by Jack Buckley at
11:04 AM
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