Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Reflection - The Rock
I could tell it from my vantage point high above Jesus, his disciples and the crowd. I could tell it was time for Jesus to get away from it all. I could also tell that as Jesus approached me along with his disciples that this was going to be a little different from the other times Jesus would visit with me. Jesus was going to do more than just pray to the Father... Jesus was going to prepare the disciples and teach a lesson that he wanted to be taught throughout the ages to come.
There is always some conversation and contemplation on the journey to me high upon this mountain. When people make the journey from below to my perch on this mountain; I can hear the talk and the conversation. Then I hear the pause, the silence, when each person or the group of people need to take a break on the walk and catch their breath. I can tell that conversation leads to contemplation. I can tell that the journey to my perch on this mountain is a journey that draws the individual and the group into harmony with nature, in harmony with one another and in harmony with God. On the hike to my perch, people really reflect and think about things.
And here they were. Jesus paused and sat upon me like he has so many times and the disciples gathered at the feet of Jesus to see what this little journey away from the crowds was all about. There was mystery in the air and there was the excitement of a new teaching about to be told.
As Jesus sat upon me I could take it all in. Jesus taught the disciples now and the disciples throughout time, a little bit about God's love. God loves the crowds. God loves the people... all the people. God loves not only the person but the crowd. And God shows compassion and love towards his people. The Father's intentions were always that all people would come to believe in him and place all of their trust, hope, future and their lives into the Creator's hands. The Father, the Creator, the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit always, always, wants unity and fellowship and relationship with the individual, the people, the crowd... yes God's Chosen.
God loves the people and has witnessed the fall into sin. These people are born into a sinful world as sinful beings and can't help themselves. Even though many think that they can work their way out of this; God knows they can't. So, here we have Jesus. Here we have Jesus the One God sent to save the crowd from sin, death and the devil. Here we have Jesus with a lesson of love. A lesson of how hope in God and belief in God's active work of Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man.
So, Jesus teaches the disciples about the crowds... the crowds that are broken down to their last hope. The crowds that have tried and failed to save themselves... the crowds that yearn for a blessing from God... the crowds that look to Jesus for salvation... for a Messiah. Jesus teaches the disciples to love the crowds of the crying, the poor, the meek, the merciful who have been taken advantage of in this cruel world of sin. Jesus teaches the disciples to love the crowds of the peacemakers who see no peace, the pure in heart that are ridiculed for their belief in God, the persecuted and hated people of this fallen world.
Yes, Jesus teaches the disciples then and today to love the crowds of people that hurt. Jesus teaches the disciples throughout the ages to love the crowds and the people and teaches about God's love and outpouring grace to these crowds of people, of individuals. Jesus teaches about the blessings of God. The hope for the future. The wonder of a God that would send his Son into the world to take on the sin that lead these crowds into the condition in which they now exist, to save them and graciously give them and all the crowds, all the people, all the individuals, eternal life with Jesus in heaven.
And then Jesus rose from my perch high on that mountain and the disciples and Jesus took off on the hike back to the valley, in love with God, to love the people. To love in action and word. Jesus and his disciples took off after that teaching from my perch to act out the love of God towards all the people, all the crowds and to each individual.
Prayer
Lord, thanks for the pause to sit at your feet and to learn from Jesus. Thanks for hearing the blessings the love and the awesome grace you have shown to me and to all people. As I go with you this day may I love as you have loved, may I act as you have taught me to act, may I respond in love towards the people, the crowds, the individuals, as you have acted... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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