All Saint's Day - November 1, 2009

The Church Season of Trinity
All Saints Sunday
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (November 1, 2009)

“Beatitudes”

Readings:
Psalm 149
Revelation 7:2-17
1 John 3:1-
Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon Form Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 5th chapter of St. Matthew, especially the following verses:

Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth 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 shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Over the years, today’s Gospel reading of Christ’s words has been interpreted in many ways. These first few verses we know as the Beatitudes. The word Beatitude is from the Latin word “beatus,” which we translate as meaning “blessed” or “happy” and that word occurs nine times in as many verses. About 25 years ago, plus or minus, these nine beatitudes, we’re interpreted differently by a person who was selling his self-help book entitled “The Be (happy) Attitudes.” Meaning if you do these things you can and will transform your life.” This author did not understand that Jesus Christ was not talking about your attitude nor mine or how we can do better and earn our way into heaven If you think this is what Jesus meant, If you do all these things, then you will earn from God great results then you end up with Be-happy-attitudes. Confusing? Then let us re-hear the Beatitudes as your requirements for holiness.

Be-attitude #1. “Blessed are the poor”(v.3) Be-happy translation, You shall be poor. You must be poor. You are to be poor, so immediately become poor. Therefore, Be-attitude #1 – Be poor, and if you do this, then and only then you will have the kingdom of heaven. So go ahead and do it, complete it by your own reason and strength, pull out your wallet or purse and give it to the shelter-house, sell your IRA’s, 401k’s, mutual funds, your house, your second house, your car, and all that you have and give it away, all of it immediately. That would be hearing the Beatitude as all Law. Rather be blessed in Jesus words. Hear now these words as the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus says to you, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."(Mt. 8:20) Jesus was poor, so that you may inherit the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus says to you, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”(Mt. 25:34)

Be-attitude #2. “Blessed are those who mourn.”(v.4) Be-happy-attitude, you shall mourn. You must continually be mourning. Mourn right now and don’t stop, begin now, mourn. Be-attitude #2 – Be mournful. And if you do this, and only if you do this, then you shall be comforted. Mourn that you do not have enough, mourn that you have too much, mourn when someone else succeeds, mourn when you do not succeed. Do not think about glasses half full, mourn because all things in life are half empty. That is a Beatitude of made of Law. Rather be blessed and hear now the Gospel of Christ. Jesus cried for you, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”(Mt. 23:37) Jesus mourned for you the lost, so He does what we would not. Jesus mourned cries out for you on the cross, “It is finished”, and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”(John 19:30)

Be-attitude #3. “Blessed are the meek.”(v.5) Be-happy translated. Always endure injury with patience, have humility, be gentle, be easily imposed upon, be submissive, not violent or strong, be docile and tame at all times and all places. Hear and do this always and you shall inherit the earth and that is all Law. Now hear these words as Christ’s Gospel, for you. He endured a trial, was struck and beaten, He was submissive in the face of the great powers of the earth, yet He says to you, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”(Mt 11:29)

Be-attitude #4. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”(v. 6) Law translation; Well at first blush it would seem obvious that Jesus was not talking to Americans for most of us are neither hungry or thirsty. But indeed He was talking to all mankind. Do not eat, do not drink, desire only the things of righteousness. Rather be blessed because you can not meet the requirements of the Law, it just can’t be done except by Christ who said on the cross, “I thirst.”(Jn 19:38) And He says to you even this day, “Take eat this is my body, Take drink this is my blood, given and shed for you for the remission of sins. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”(1 Cor 11:23-26)

Be-attitude #5. “Blessed are the merciful”(v.7) If you are to reflect a be-happy attitude; Do this always and without fail; be kind, be forgiving, be thankful, give others relief, be tender, be mild, be lenient at all times, always, and everywhere and to everyone. These words of Law you cannot keep. Rather be blessed by Christ and hear that Jesus would, “go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)

Be-Attitude #6. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”(v.8) Hear this as be-happy Law and you will do this always; never think an evil thought about your neighbor or anyone with whom you shall ever meet. Do not curse. Do not swear. Do not lust. Do not covet. Do not do any of these things ever. If any fail, we all fall. We cannot be pure in heart in all places and all times. Yet be blessed and recall in your baptism, where the water was combined with God’s words, “receive the sign of the cross both upon your heart and upon your forehead to mark as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.” And in your baptism Christ makes you pure and holy, and “[You} will see His face, and His Name will be on [your] forehead.”(Rev. 22:4)

Be-attitude #7. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”(v.9) Be-happy when you make peace with every family member. Make peace with every neighbor. Make peace with everyone who has done you wrong. Make peace with every single one of your enemies, yes even that person who you just now this very moment who came into your mind. It just can’t be done, though we should strive to do it, we can’t do it without fail. But Jesus says to you, be blessed; “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. “(John 14:27)

Be-attitude #8. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(v. 10) Be-happy while you stand up in public for the rights of the living unborn. Be persecuted for admitting you’re a Christian. Tell everyone you have cancelled your cable T.V. because it portrays unhealthy and ungodly relationships, violence, and all manner of evil things. Be persecuted for standing up and standing out in a crowd while fighting for those people who are weaker than you. But, now we say, wait a minute, you’ve gone too far, not my cable and besides everyone is entitled to their own opinions, aren’t they? All Law. Rather, Jesus says be blessed for, “God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’”(Luke 11:49) Christ was persecuted prophet, for your sake.

Be-attitude #9. “11 “Blessed are you when others revile you”(v.11) Be-happy and do not speak back when you are verbally abused. Never use abusive language to get you point across. Never become angry when you are critized by worldly views which are imposed upon a biblical foundation. And we say, Do you expect me to just take all that? Hear the Gospel of Christ knowing that an angry crowd said to Jesus, “He saved others; let him save himself.”(Luke 23:35) Hear how sad it is that that crowd uttered those words right after Jesus proclaimed the Gospel message to sinners saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”(Luke 23:34)

We can not do or change our character by trying to achieve any or all of these Beatitudes. Though we are called to do better each and every day we do not need Beatitudes which make light of the Law. The Law points us to what we have done and left undone. We live the Law daily as we see in our fallen lives and failing bodies. Rather we can approach Christ on bended knee with a repentant heart and in faith. And in spite of all our be-happy attitudes, Jesus completes the requirements of Law for you. Jesus speaks to you saying, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(v. 12) Jesus was not only the persecuted prophet before you, He is the persecuted prophet for you. Rejoice and be glad not for what you or I have done. Rather, rejoice and be glad that Christ has freely given you your reward, which is eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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