“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” (Matthew 5:3-12 NRSV-CI).
Where can I find God? He is with those poor in spirit. He is with those who are mourning. He is with the meek. He is with those that pursue righteousness. He is with the merciful. He is with the pure in heart. He is with the peacemakers. He is with the persecuted. He is with those neglected by the ways of this world, the ones in opposition to the way this world operates. He isn’t found in the arrogant, the powerful, the rich, the unjust, the warmakers, and the praised of this world. His Kingdom is one in opposition to the ways we think things are supposed to work.
Blessed are those that work to stop injustice and spread the righteousness of His Kingdom. Blessed are those that look after the folks that our world casts aside. Blessed are those that want an end to violence and oppression. Blessed are those that take up the cause of justice. Blessed are those that end up being ridiculed and marginalized for taking up the heart of service at the center of Jesus’s teaching.
It’s not a blessing for “telling it like it is”. Jesus does not say that the Good News is prosperity and wealth. Jesus does not bless large congregations and extravagant buildings. Jesus does not lay blessings out for bringing on the end times. Jesus does not bless building walls, denying services, or transplanting people. Jesus blesses those among us that are doing the work of His Kingdom or suffering from the results of His Kingdom not being fully embraced.
When we work on Kingdom things, our perspective changes. That is what repentance is all about. Repenting is changing our perspective from that of the world to that of His Kingdom. And even though we live in the world, to live out His Kingdom here and now. That is the blessing. The blessing is in serving His Kingdom, loving our neighbor, and all this through loving and obeying Him. Too often the Sermon on the Mount is marginalized as impossible and impractical BUT there are plenty of folks past, present, and future that see it as the most practical, most important way to live like Jesus. Is Jesus really who He says He is? Is what He says in this sermon applicable to then and now and forever? How does this sermon change my perspective on how I am living? What repentance do I still need in my life in light of what Jesus teaches? Do I really believe what He says about the Kingdom?