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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Epiphany 4 Yr A
This is a wonderful depiction of the Beatitudes, created by Dovetailink (Monica Welsh) on Etsy. Shop her store for more delightful images.
Published date 1/26/23
Introduction
Introduction
For many Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary, one is hard-pressed to connect all the scripture listing. Often two are closely linked but the other two not so much. Not Epiphany 4 Year A. The Old Testament Prophet Micah gives guidance for daily life: do just, love kindness, walk humbly with God. Psalm 15 echoes Micah with a summary of what it takes to enter the kingdom of God. Not to be outdone, Paul's first letter to the Corinthians reminds us that those who are not followers think we're nuts. Finally, the gospel of Matthew brings it all together: do this because . . .. So the "label" for this Sunday should rather be "Living under God's directives", not "Beatitudes".
For those who have not noticed, Pope Francis offered new beatitudes in 2016. Lutheran minister Nadia Bolz-Weber, who has served years in the unserved communities in Denver, offers her version. The Message Bible takes it turn, with vernacular attuned to the times. And don't overlook the Luke version which includes the woes. In other words, the Beatitudes generate much thought and discussion. Perhaps it's time for you to give it a go yourself. How might you write (or re-write) the "blessings"? I'd love to see them.
Share your thoughts.
Matthew 5:1-12
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“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."
sermons4kids: “. . . happiness is not a feeling that is brought about by the things that happen to us. It is an attitude that we have because of what we have in our heart. We need to be like the bee, buzzing happily through life because of what God has done for us. ”
Scripture: January 29, 2023—Micah 6:1-8 (image); Psalm 15 (image); 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (image); and Matthew 5:1-12 (image). A visual/audio journey.
Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: How do we live in hope of a reality we cannot yet see or, at best, catch only fleeting glimpses? Where in your community’s life of prayer and service do you see instances of God’s justice, peace, and healing? Then give thanks, and ask God, Where am I being called to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly into all blessedness in the ordinary course of my day?
Excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1 © 2013 Westminster John Knox Press
From memory: Beginning this issue, let's memorize scripture (as we did when we were kids). For this Sunday, try Micah 6:8: "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Ear Worm: “Beatitudes“, Russian chant; “Remember your servants, Lord“, hymn, a capella quartet; “What does the Lord require?” hymn
Eye Candy: “Broad road and narrow gate“ by Ain Vares; “Christ teaching”, anonymous; “The Sermon on the Mount” by Carl Bloch.
Brain Food: “Litany of the blessed” by Jan Richardson; “Epiphany 4A” by John van de Laar; Poem:
Beatitudes
Blessed be the dreamers, for they know how to hope.
Blessed be the mothers, for they know the value of life.
Blessed be the faithful, for they know the power of prayer.
Blessed be the wanderers, for they know the ways of the world.
Blessed be the silent, for they know how to truly listen.
Blessed be the teachers, for they know the joy of a child.
Blessed be the lost, for they know how it feels to be found.
Blessed be the joyful, for they know the importance of laughter.
Copyright © Amy Frazey
Parables: “Big Hero 6“, animated about "blessed are the merciful", kid-friendly; The Beatitudes at the Movies, series from the United Church of Christ; "Father Stu, Father Stu: Reborn", a story of a boxer finding God [, warning "Father Stu" is R-rated & "Father Stu: Reborn" is PG-13, choose wisely]; "Chocolat" (2000), about nature of evil and goodness of creation; "Pay it Forward"(2000), simply how to change the world
Some eye-candy:
“Beatitudes†by James Tissot
“Plaque of the eight beatitudes,†Saint Cajetan Church, Lindavista, Mexico
Church of the Beatitudes, by the Sea of Galilee, Israel
Brain food:
commentary “Live Differently†from Journey with Jesus website
commentary “On Beatitudes and Blessings†by David Lose
contemporary beatitudes:BeatitudesBlessed be the dreamers, for they know how to hope.
Blessed be the mothers, for they know the value of life.
Blessed be the faithful, for they know the power of prayer.
Blessed be the wanderers, for they know the ways of the world.
Blessed be the silent, for they know how to truly listen.
Blessed be the teachers, for they know the joy of a child.
Blessed be the lost, for they know how it feels to be found.
Blessed be the joyful, for they know the importance of laughter.
Copyright © Amy Frazey | Year Posted 2013
Listening pleasure
Listening pleasure
“Lead me, Lord†by John Becker
“Seek ye first†by Choirs of Howard University and Patti LaBelle (not familiar melody)
“Beatitudes†by from Russian Orthodoxy arranged by Richard Proulx
For families: Study guide and activities (former guide), group activity; snacks, kid video (little longer than usual)
For children: See family guide/activities above (other activities: one and two), bulletin; craft
For middlers: See family guide/activities above (other activities: one and two); bulletin; craft
Coloring: Sermon on the mount; Matthew, flower
For youth: So what does it mean to be a fool for Christ? (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-31) It could mean living like the late Ken Feit, who called himself an itinerant fool for Christ. Ken was a Jesuit seminarian who eventually left the Jesuits to become a vocational fool. He trained at clown school, learned pantomime and sign language, and studied storytelling with Native American and African storytellers. He traveled the world sharing, or “making” (as he would say), stories. This twentieth century fool said, “I am interested in the fool as an agent of spirituality. Unless we become as fools, we cannot really be wise.” Is that what is required of you? Excerpted from the Stewardship of Life website.
If you wish, share your thoughts.
A couple more things you might enjoy:
“If you’re happy and you know itâ€, kids rockin’ video
Write each beatitude on a small slip of paper and put into a jar or vase. Everyday, pull one out and figure out how to be that. Put paper back in jar or vase and repeat the next day.
And fun home activities
Bee-attitude bees booklet: Make a small booklet with stickers or pictures or tracings of bees. Write words for each of the BE HAPPY statements today.
Hide pictures or drawings of bees throughout the house (say 10 of them). As your child find the bee, talk about one of the beatitudes and have a reward (like honey bee snacks below).
A "reminder" snack can be Nabisco's honey bee snacks.
In today's Eucharist, we continue the theme of Epiphany season: the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God. One of the ways the Lord was shown forth as God's Son was in teaching, and today's Gospel, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, reveals in the Beatitudes Christ's call to holiness, and his promise of the Kingdom of God.
The Old Testament reading from the prophet Micah is a call from God to holiness, as well. In its closing words, we hear the same principles of living in response to God expressed in the Beatitudes. Certainly, Jesus' hearers, steeped as they were in the words of the prophets, saw immediately that God was speaking through him in many ways consistent with the divine Word given through the prophets. Ultimately, however, it was not in his teaching that the fullest revelation was made by the Lord, but in his crucifixion.
Paul, seeking to inspire the Corinthian church to unity, points out that God's wisdom was most fully revealed in the cross of Christ. What, in terms of the world's wisdom, appeared to be foolishness, is to us who believe, God's deepest wisdom.
As we gather in Eucharist, we are one with God's people throughout the ages. We are one with apostles and prophets and faithful people in every age who have met the Lord in Word and Sacrament: people who by God's grace have before us the blessedness of and promise of God's coming reign.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2009 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
This continues the theme of Epiphany, the showing forth of Jesus as the Son of God. Note also that the way of living which he teaches enables those who follow his teaching to themselves be “epiphanies†of God’s presence in the world. Isaiah warns us that living rightly does not depend on carrying out religious devotions such as fasting. He is speaking in a time when the people were careful to fast but ignored God’s call to live at peace with each other and to care for the poor and helpless. Religious devotions that are merely outward show do not enable us to be right with God. In seeking to speak to the divisions in the Corinthian church, Paul takes on those who are proud of having special and private knowledge about God, believing their “wisdom†sets them apart from other church members. However, Paul announces that God’s wisdom is far greater than human wisdom and that God’s wisdom is “Jesus Christ, and him crucified.†Jesus’ Epiphany is fulfilled in our own time in Word and Sacraments and in the lives of those who through baptism have been made part of his body the church. In the liturgy, our part in making Jesus known to all people is initiated in the Eucharistic feast and fulfilled as we are sent into the world in his name to care for the helpless and to be instruments of God’s peace and reconciliation.
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