Everybody's got a hungry heart

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: 

“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 be shown 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 because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  

‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain side and sat down. He didn't stand to give a lecture, because in his world, sitting was the posture of a teacher, and also the posture of a friend who has time for you. His disciples came close. That’s the picture we're given, not a classroom but a drawing close to learn, not a lecture hall but a hillside where the tired could rest and listen. And then he began to speak, blessing the ones that no one else would bless.

He began with the poor in spirit, saying that the kingdom of heaven was theirs. Think about that, not the proud, not the self-sufficient, not the ones who have it all figured out. But the empty-handed; the ones who’ve nothing left to offer. In this we see that God fills the hands that are held open, and not the hands that are already full.

Then he turns to those who mourn, and he promises that they’ll be comforted. Grief isn’t a lack of faith, it’s the price of love. And Jesus doesn’t rush us past our tears. He sits with us in them. The comfort of God isn’t some quick fix, rather it’s the presence of our closest friend.

Then he blesses the meek, saying that they would inherit the earth. Meekness isn’t weakness, it’s inner strength that has taught us to kneel. The meek don’t grab the throne, they inherit it. When the loudest voices of this world fade away, the gentle quiet ones inherit.

Then Jesus blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and he promises that they would be filled. This hunger is for things to be made right, things in our heart, in our home, in our world. You know, God doesn’t mock hungry people, but he does fill them. And hunger isn’t a problem when the ‘Bread of Life’ himself is readily available.

Then Jesus blesses the merciful,  saying they would receive mercy. Mercy is giving what isn’t deserved, and all of us remember what we’ve been given. The merciful aren’t doormats, people who are always giving, but they are mirrors of grace. So show mercy, and mercy will find you, when you too are in need of it.

Then Jesus blesses the pure in heart, saying that they would see God. These aren’t perfect people, but single-hearted people, undivided in their focus. A pure heart sees God not because it is flawless, but because it is focused. Think of it like this; a clean window lets in the maximum amount of light!

Time for the peacemakers, Jesus blesses the peacemakers, called them ‘children of God’. Not peacekeepers who avoid conflict, but peacemakers who walk into the fray with love. They are called children of God because they do what the Father does. Peacemakers don’t just keep the peace; they make it!

Finally he blesses the persecuted, the mocked, the ones who suffer for seeking to follow God’s righteousness. He said our reward is great in heaven, so, if you‘re mocked for doing right, you’re in good company. The prophets walked this path long before any of us, and heaven is cheering us on. The world may reject us, but heaven has already recorded our names.

Jesus’s invitation for us today is this,

Come, come poor, come mourning, come hungry, come gentle, come as you are, come, but don’t expect to stay as you are! Because Jesus, the One who sat down on that hillside is still speaking, and His words to the weary aren’t "try harder" it’s "blessed are you."

We aren’t blessed because we have it all together. We’re blessed because Jesus is near.

Have a great week, and may God bless you,

Trev.