Wednesday, May 13, 2020
                “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

                “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds.” (Matthew 5: 1 – 12, The Message Bible)

The Beatitudes are probably my favourite verses of scripture.

They are challenging but comforting, provocative but re-assuring, insightful and hopeful. They turn the world upside down and inside out. In them, Jesus makes a commitment that God will reverse the negative circumstances for people who are powerless, defenceless, weak, poor and have no one to defend them in times of troubles. The Message Bible gives them a fresh interpretation. Please read them carefully, prayerfully and thoughtfully.

These are the perfect verses for these times we are in.

These verses invite us to see the world as God wants it to be, rather than the way it is. They imply that God is not done in re-creating this old  reality, and fighting for true and significant justice. We can be new creations. The words promise that there is a place for you and me in God’s care, no matter how low on the totem pole we happen to be. They refuse to allow the big, bad world to finish us off. None of us need to be victimized, abused, lost, forgotten or tossed aside.

These verses express for me the very core or heart of the Gospel, the Good News according to Jesus. God has a plan; evil is trying to thwart it. But God won’t give up on us; God won’t allow pain and suffering ultimately to define our lives. Jesus is the guarantee that even death loses in the end.

There is an old gospel hymn you may be familiar with:

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged that all is lost,

Count your many blessings -

Name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” (J. Oatman Jr.)

Perhaps, these words sound all too simplistic and the Beatitudes sound unrealistic. But I often think that stretching reality is the very purpose of the whole Gospel, defining fresh interpretations of salvation and redemption. This Gospel reverses the tide of human affairs. This Gospel confronts what sometimes seems to be so painfully normal and unchangeable. This Gospel gives the world a shake and upsets the patterns of sin, evil, injustice and misery. The Gospel give me courage to face the world knowing that I am not alone.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged – God is over all;

Count your many blessings – angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Dale