Blessed are the Cheese-makers


This sermon can be listened to here

Gate Pa –  4th Sunday after Epiphany - Year A -2020

Readings:
Psalm -                         Psalm: 84  
First Reading -             Malachi 3:1-4  
Second Reading -         Luke 2: 22-40 
Gospel -                        Matthew 5: 1-12 
What I want to say:
I want to explore this week’s gospel readings, of both the presentation of Jesus in the temple and the Beatitudes. What do these stories reveal about Christ, and what do they reveal about how we are to live our response
What I want to happen:
People to reflect on the above

The Sermon

       1.     Introduction:

Last week talked about epiphany
Sort of described these Epiphany as
“wrap your mind around this
God is with us
God is with us all
God is with all
-         (even Gentiles)”
During epiphany have number stories reinforce this revelation
This day – Feb 2nd traditionally Candlemas
Makes end of season of Epiphany
-         Every year hear story Jesus presentation at temple in Luke
Listen to all these stories invited reflect on
-         Who is Christ revealed to be in these stories?
-         What is nature ministry?
-         What that reveal about nature of God’s character?
-         Where might we look to see God’s ongoing work of bring “shalom” into the world today?

       2.     Blessed are the Cheese-makers

Today is also 4th Sunday in Epiphany
Gospel for that day is Beatitudes
Important story
Provides the key to understand Matthew
Constantly coming back to it
Retell story
After gathering disciples
Crowds grow
Takes them up one hills nearby
Crowds not too far away
From where sit
Look down into Capernaum
Small little fishing village
In fact see maybe 10 similar villages along coast
Out on see Galilee see boats moving across and along
See up into hills and see other communities
Poor people struggling to survive under hard tax system imposed by overlords
In distance see city Tiberias
This new city emerging in haze
Roman garrison stationed there
Where so much tax going to support building and troops
Jesus asks them to look around
What do they see?
Who are the people of great status in this world
Who are the people of honour?
Who do you look up to and aspire to be like?
Who are the cool kids?

3. Then Jesus teaches…
In the kingdom of heaven
The reign of God breaking upon us as I speak
"The cool kids will include the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   4 "look up to those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
   5 " aspire to be like the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
   6 "Honoured are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
   7 "revere the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
   8 " Honoured are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
   9 " Aspire to be numbered among the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
   10 "Hold in the greatest honour those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
   12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The values behind how we decide who in our our society normally holds in greatest esteem
Those values
Those priorities
Created world we live in
  • World immense wealth
  • Wealthy can do whatever they want with seeming impunity
  • World poverty
  • Hunger
  • Death
  • Hatred
  • Division

4. Questions 
What would world look like if we held these people in highest esteem
If world reverenced them
If world met their needs
What world look like
What are we invited into?

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