the 6th sunday after epiphany
the PRAYER …
Living God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your glory, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
the READING …
Then [Jesus] looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God …”
luke 6:17-26
the DEVOTION …
Sunday morning, I had a chance to listen to a sermon – or two, or three – onLine. From ELCA congregations in other parts of the country. Of course, they were all based on the gospel reading. The same passage we read. From Luke. On the Beattitudes! The Blessed-Ares! “The more we put in motion our faith,” one preacher said, “the more we’re rewarded.” Huh? I hit the pause button, backed up a few seconds, and listened, again. Unfortunately, I’d heard it right. “The more we put in motion our faith, the more we’re rewarded.” Apparently, from his perspective, faith is all cause-and-effect! Quid pro quo! This for that! Blessings are rewards! Payments! Prizes!
But that’s not how it works. Pure and simple, blessings are gifts … no strings attached! Blessings are something god gives whether we earn them or not! Something god gives whether or not we deserve them! For that matter, they’re something god gives whether we want them or don’t! God gives – blesses – simply because god wants to! Simply because that’s what god does! And it doesn’t matter if our faith is – or isn’t – in motion! It doesn’t, even, matter if there is any faith! I guess that’s why the poor and hungry and crying are singled out as “blessed.” They’re the only ones who can’t repay god! The only ones who don’t bother trying! Instead, all they do is say, “Thanks!”