Matthew 5. The Beatitudes.
I struggle with Matthew's formulation of the Beatitudes, simply because they contradict Luke's version. In Luke, the Beatitudes take aim at the injustice of the wealth/poverty dichotomy of this world. But Matthew takes the Beatitudes and turns them around into spiritual truths. "Blessed are the poor," says the Lukan Jesus; "Blessed are the poor in spirit," Matthew's Savior responds. In modern Christianity, it is Matthew's version of the Beatitudes that are sold as authoritative. And Luke's "woe to you who are rich... who are full now... who are laughing" fall by the wayside.
Last week, my friend Katie put out her usual request asking for a chorus of voices to enhance her sermon preparation. Her focus (not her text) was the fifth of the Matthew-itudes, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy." In my response, I mentioned the trouble I had with these famous pithy sayings.
Her sermon put some of my struggles to rest. Here it is:
http://becominglight.typepad.com/Sermons/mt15.pdf
And here's her blog:
http://becominglight.typepad.com/
I think I've posted a sermon by her husband Kevin, but never one of hers. If you find yourself on a Saturday evening with nothing to do but get extra-prepared for worship in the morning, I recommend you spend some time flipping through Katie's sermons. They're very good.
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