A Plain Sermon?
Gate Pa – Year C 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
Readings:
Psalm Psalm 1
First Reading: Jeremiah
17:5-10
Second Reading: 1 Cor
15:12-20
Gospel:
Luke
6:17-26
What I want to say:
To explore Luke’s version of
this block of teaching and asking, why is it on a plane and not on a Mount, and
what Luke might have thought “blessed” meant compared to what we too easily
think it meant. And lastly where do I fit with all of this – I think I am
numbered in the group being “woed” and warned.
What I want to happen:
People
to reflect on where they fit with all of this and what that might mean for them
as they approach this Lent
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
don’t hear these
readings often in church
apart Psalm 1
Easter is about
as late as it can go
earliest possible
date for Easter is March 22 and the latest possible is April 25.
2016 was as early
as it will get until 2035
2030 this late
again
2038 – on ANZAC
day
none which make
any difference to most of us here today
extra Sundays
between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday
get hear some
readings might not otherwise
which is a pity
Luke’s version of
story heard today is a great story
more used to
Matthew’ sermon on a Mount in Matthew 6
notice any
differences apart from one is in Matthew and one is in Luke
-
on a plain
-
blessed are the
poor (in spirit)
-
blessed are those
who are hungry (hunger for righteousness)
as we look at
these two things keep in mind
a. Luke writing to Theophilus – assumed to well
off
b. we are to read Luke through lens of his
reading of Isaiah in Nazareth and Magnificat
2. Plain
Luke story is set
on a plane not mount overlooking Capernaum
mount – wahi tapu
– sacred place
-
Matthew show how
Jesus is new Moses
-
sermon on Mount
is new reading of Torah
o
lens through
which read rest of gospel
plain – wahi noa
-
places of
corpses, disgrace, suffering, misery, hunger and mourning –
o
Ronald J. Allen
on Working Preacher offers a lot biblical examples
Jesus comes down
from Mountain and into the midst
-
poor people
-
sick people
-
people possessed
by demons
-
desperate people
-
broken people
-
surrounding him
-
grabbing hold of
him
This is what the
year of the Lord’s favour looks like
he is standing in
broken place among broken people
“proclaim good
news to the poor.
He has sent me to
proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of
sight to the blind,
to set at liberty
those who are oppressed,”
Another way plain is used in Isaiah and Ezekiel – sign coming salvation of God
high places and
low place are made level
this broken place
is transformed into a place of hope where reign of God is breaking into their broken
world
3. Teaching
turns disciples
and gives Luke’s version of The Beatitudes
“ Blessed are you
who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you
who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
Blessed are you
who weep now, for you shall laugh.
Blessed are you
when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your
name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for
joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to
the prophets.”
so what is
blessed?
Jeremiah, and
many others would say
-
blessed with long
life, health, many children, and wealth
-
whole theology in
Christianity based on this understanding of blessed
but not what
Greek means
number ways Greek
can be read
most point to
concept of “honoured”
people of great
honour are people looked up to
-
celebrities
-
tended to be people
of power and wealth,
-
who because wealth
access to better food and medical care
o
way less arduous
work life
-
tended live
longer with more children
Here – as in
Matthew
Jesus saying the
honoured people in God’s eyes are
poor, hungry,
those who mourn
broken people he is
standing in the midst of
not person Luke
is writing his gospel for
that person is
more likely to be included in the next wee bit
the woes or
warnings
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who
are full now, for you shall be hungry.
Woe to you who
laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you, when
all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”
all of which we have heard in Mary’s song of protest
but here laid out
reign of God is not business as usual with the rich staying rich
because wealth of rich and powerful is based on poverty of poor
in Jesus world - @90% population
4. Me
what is Luke offering here
picture of reign of God being in the midst of poorest, broken
people
where is God at work?
Jesus shows us – in the midst of the profane and broken
where are we to look for the ongoing work of God?
in the midst of the profane and broken
in the midst of poorest, broken people
not in places
like this
not in wonderful
cathedrals
-
with important
people up front on elevated platforms
-
in the seats of
the important
honest feel
pretty moticated by all that
find warnings more
troubling
I am in global
scheme among to rich
in this country I
am not wealthy
nor am I poor?
how is my middle
class comfortable like built on the poverty of others?
in this country and
overseas
as we approach Lent
how might these warning
apply to me?
what might Lent
offer me and opportunity to address?
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