Blessed are the Meek

 In the third week of the season of Epiphany we are considering the third of the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5. Jesus tells the crowds Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5 NIV). Other translations say blessed are the gentle (New American Standard and others) or blessed are the humble (New Living Translation and others). The Amplified Bible expands the word even further to read, Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.

In Matthew 11:29 Jesus refers to himself as being meek. He says, take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Jesus also modeled meekness in the servanthood of washing his disciples' feet. Aligning our lives with the meekness of Jesus is a way to inherit and live into the Kingdom of God.

But what exactly is this ‘meekness’ or ‘humility’ or ‘gentleness’ that Jesus invites us to participate in? Is it the attitude of putting others needs ahead of our own? Is it seeing the face of God in each and every one and in all parts of creation? Is it the Golden Rule? Is it all of these and more?

In the Letter to the Romans, we are told, by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3) That is the core of meekness. To know we aren’t the most important thing in the world and to be open to God’s leading and loving.

That is the opposite of what we are told by the world we live in. Culture insists we should be prepared and look out for ‘number one’. As the song in the musical South Pacific says we’ve “got to be carefully taught…to hate all the people our relatives hate.” Meekness is the offering of one-self to God and to others in love.

Matthew Dickerson notes, “As many have pointed out, meekness is not the same as weakness, but it does involve humility and a willingness not to use our power to dominate others. In that way, it is a type of vulnerability. Paul…is more explicit about embracing weakness. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). Paul’s teaching suggests both that we not avoid or deny our weakness, and also that we not follow the world’s so-called “wisdom” that values strength and disdains vulnerability.”  

The Good News of God tells us in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:5). Instead of looking out for just ourselves we are to try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:33).

How can we be the counter-cultural humans we are meant to be? Desmond Tutu is quoted as saying, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Henri Nouwen offers further advice in this graphic and concludes, “I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.”

In this next week choose to sow a ‘little bit of love’ in the world you inhabit.  

Epiphany: Proclaim

 Last week we started our exploration of Isaiah 61:1-4 by considering how we are anointed to go and be part of bringing God’s love to the world. This week we will start to look at some of the steps needed to bring that reality to life.

Isaiah 61:1 says, ...God has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed (NRSV) or proclaim good news to the poor. (NIV). Jesus was asked by John the Baptist “are you the one we are to expect?” Jesus pointed to the fulfilling of Isaiah 61. Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. (Luke 7:22)

How do we go about proclaiming the good news to those who are poor or oppressed or downtrodden by life, by injustice, by COVID, by fear, or the myriad other things that assault us?

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has a book called God’s Dream for young children, that can give all of us guidance. His little story tells of children who “reach out and hold each other's hands, but sometimes get angry and hurt each other — and say they're sorry and forgive. It's a wish that everyone will see they are brothers and sisters, no matter their way of speaking to God, no matter the size of their nose or the shade of their skin.” You can hear the book read on YouTube by a lovely lady with a British accent.

 Tutu’s book says, “Each of us carries a piece of God’s heart within us and when we love one another the pieces of God’s heart are made whole.” I think that is a perfect description of why we need to share the good news of God’s love. As we share the love that is God’s heart, our hearts and the hearts of those we meet are made whole.

Sharing the good news is an active thing. It’s not just holding up the Bible and saying, “God loves you”. Living God’s Dream means drying one another’s tears, as in Tutu’s book. It is supporting food pantries and wearing masks during this time. It is finding ways to speak out against injustice wherever we see it. It is finding the love of God in our heart. Archbishop Tutu says it’s “as easy as sharing, loving, caring. As easy as holding, playing, laughing. As easy as knowing we are family because we are all God’s children.”

It can also be very hard. As we reel from the unbelievable actions of a mob at the US Capital this past week, we must also be careful not to turn to hate or blame or name calling. In his book, Love is the Way, Presiding Bishop Curry quotes Rabbi Martin Bubber saying "there are two possible ways to relate to the world around us. I-It and I-Thou...[the second] makes It your object, a thing instead of a beautiful fellow child of God...Thou recognizes the other as...a human spirit whose truth can only be understood through relationship." We have to see each other as Thou and seek relationship--not categorize those who we disagree with is as IT. We must strive for reconciliation and really seeing one another as Children of God--as THOU. 

Someone said that the protestors/rioters were acting from fear. Maybe is was fear of oppression or the end of a 'way of life'. That could be true. I don't know what was in their hearts. Bishop Marian Budde and Dean Randy Hollerith from the National Cathedral issued this call for peace and understanding that I think bears repeating. In it they acknowledge " you have succeeded in that you have been seen and you have been heard. You have made your point. Now lay aside your violence, give rest to your anger and go home." 

What can I do today and this week to bring good news to the oppressed? Maybe a note or a phone call. Maybe a smile or a wave. Maybe writing a letter to the editor or protesting. Maybe standing in solidarity or donating to a food pantry or cause. Each of us answers that question differently because our piece of God’s heart is different from the other pieces. We need all the pieces to be able to proclaim the good news and be made whole.

How can you see someone you disagree with as Thou--as truly a Child of God, no matter the difference of opinion? Can you start a conversation with them? 

Pentecost: Love is Work

Last time we noted that God is asking us to step out of the security of our safe ‘boats’, built of our expectations and plans. The Spirit that blew through the upper room at Pentecost still blows through our lives and asks us to respond by letting go.

At the beginning of this series we encountered Laurie Brock’s words about Loving the Violent Wind [of the Spirit]. She warns, “The love of Jesus rocks the ships of our own schemes, running them aground and forcing us to enter new communities, to open ourselves and souls to new insights, and to act boldly to serve all in the name of Jesus. Walking, preaching, living, this love is work.”

I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like the idea that ‘Jesus rocks the ships of our schemes, running them aground’. I prefer to think that I have everything neatly figured out. I’m perfectly happy with the status quo (mostly). As noted last week, we can get trapped in our own expectations and plans. We may be willing to call on God when things really get out of control, but not before.

The country-Western song Jesus Take the Wheel epitomizes our attitude toward letting God take over. Carrie Underwood sings, “Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass/She saw both their lives flash before her eyes/She didn't even have time to cry/She was so scared/She threw her hands up in the air/Jesus take the wheel/Take it from my hands/Cause I can't do this on my own/I'm letting go/So give me one more chance/Save me from this road I'm on/Jesus take the wheel.” Only when we are really stuck do we call out and say, ‘Jesus take the wheel’. 

When we realize we aren’t in control, we hear Jesus say, ‘I give you a new commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another’ (John 13:34) This new commandment turns our plans and worlds upside down. We can no longer view anyone as ‘other’ or mark them ‘different’ for we are called to Love one another, as I have loved you.
The quote from Desmond Tutu, below, puts this kind of love in perspective, "God loves you! And God's love is so great, God loves your enemies too."

Br. Luke Ditewig of the Society of St. John Evangelist, notes we are called to have Agape Love for one another. “This is tough love, not a feeling of the heart but a resolve of the will. It’s the love God has for all of us, love no matter what. It’s the love Jesus had for his disciples and what Jesus speaks of [in John 13:34].”

Brother Luke agrees with Laurie Brock. “Love though it’s really hard work. Following Jesus is not easy.” Then he notes, “Yet Jesus always acts first. We give out of presence not absence. Having been blessed abundantly, we bless everyone. Having been loved abundantly, we love everyone.”

How can we possibly love everyone? Br. Luke asks readers to remember “how it all began, how Jesus invited you into relationship. Remember people who have been Jesus in the flesh for you…Remember how Jesus has loved you no matter what…Jesus doesn’t suggest or invite. He commands. Love one another. Love though you don’t like.”

Did you notice that last sentence? “Love though you don’t like.” We aren’t asked to LIKE everyone, or to tolerate differences. We are to LOVE one another! And that is indeed hard soul work. 

Love happens when we allow the Spirit to ‘take the wheel’. As Brock says God calls us to “new communities, to open ourselves and souls to new insights, and to act boldly.” I wonder what new insights we are closing our eyes to by not being open to God’s charge to LOVE. There are probably communities of new friends that we don’t know yet. And infinite ways to serve one another that we haven’t yet thought of. That is when, as Brock suggests, ‘love [can be] work’.

Br. Luke closes by stating, “The way is we love others no matter what.
The truth is Jesus loves us no matter what.
The life is being restored, through love, as Jesus loves, no matter what.”

Can you ‘let Jesus take the wheel’ and be open to new things in your life?

Will you allow the Spirit to act, and offer Agape love to others, no matter what?

How can we make loving, as we are commanded to do, a work of joy?

Next time, we’ll consider how loving in this way puts us at odds with society.