Matthew 5:1/ When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2/ Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3/ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
As Jesus traveled to different villages, he announced that God’s kingdom had approached them. Prior to preaching the Sermon on the Mount, he spent time pondering all that he was observing within the crowds that had gathered. Jesus observed their countenances, their station in life, their health, and their afflictions. Matthew writes that when he was done taking in all he could observe about them, he found an elevated piece of earth in the great outdoors that resembled the raised platform one might find at the synagogue. Notice, he did not invite them to follow him to the synagogue. Rather, he found a space right there where they were already assembled…. he positioned himself where he could be seen by them, and heard by them, and made himself comfortable right there. Next, Jesus taught them in this way:
I have been out walking amongst you, and I see that some of you are poor in spirit, and “Poor in Spirit” lives matter, you are on God’s radar. I see that some of you are mourning the loss of loved ones, perhaps from a pandemic, perhaps a famine or drought, perhaps an unjust killing. To all you who mourn, “Your lives matter and your loved one mattered to God.” I see that some of you are hungry and thirsty for justice. The justice system of this world has not done right by you, your cause and your agenda has been overlooked by the authorities and the power elites. “I want you to know that your lives matter,” and so on.
Jesus named the devasted, discouraged and demarcated groups that already existed. He did not create them, but they already existed within the larger society. Jesus came preaching in a manner to let them to know that, “I see you!
Only a community that is of this world can get down low and dirty enough with the multitudes to see them as they are. Jesus let them know that in addition to seeing them, they are the objects of his ministry. He has come all this way for the express purpose of tending to their needs. He is not vague, ambiguous, indirect, or understated. I see you, and you have a cherished place in the Community that God envisions. This is an aspect of the church’s incarnational ministry in the world.
Today’s Prayer
Gracious God, during this Lenten Season grant that your Church might answer the call to be present with suffering humanity. Help us to see the multitudes, to affirm that their lives matter, and to engage in ministries of healing, uplift, and transformation during this season. Even as we are physically distancing and sheltering in place, help us to creatively find ways to make your presence felt in the world around us, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
- Where will I follow Christ today?
- To whom shall I demonstrate Jesus’ love and justice today?
- How can I play my part in practicing the presence of Christ, right here, right now?
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash
Matthew 5:1/ When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2/ Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3/ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
As Jesus traveled to different villages, he announced that God’s kingdom had approached them. Prior to preaching the Sermon on the Mount, he spent time pondering all that he was observing within the crowds that had gathered. Jesus observed their countenances, their station in life, their health, and their afflictions. Matthew writes that when he was done taking in all he could observe about them, he found an elevated piece of earth in the great outdoors that resembled the raised platform one might find at the synagogue. Notice, he did not invite them to follow him to the synagogue. Rather, he found a space right there where they were already assembled…. he positioned himself where he could be seen by them, and heard by them, and made himself comfortable right there. Next, Jesus taught them in this way:
I have been out walking amongst you, and I see that some of you are poor in spirit, and “Poor in Spirit” lives matter, you are on God’s radar. I see that some of you are mourning the loss of loved ones, perhaps from a pandemic, perhaps a famine or drought, perhaps an unjust killing. To all you who mourn, “Your lives matter and your loved one mattered to God.” I see that some of you are hungry and thirsty for justice. The justice system of this world has not done right by you, your cause and your agenda has been overlooked by the authorities and the power elites. “I want you to know that your lives matter,” and so on.
Jesus named the devasted, discouraged and demarcated groups that already existed. He did not create them, but they already existed within the larger society. Jesus came preaching in a manner to let them to know that, “I see you!
Only a community that is of this world can get down low and dirty enough with the multitudes to see them as they are. Jesus let them know that in addition to seeing them, they are the objects of his ministry. He has come all this way for the express purpose of tending to their needs. He is not vague, ambiguous, indirect, or understated. I see you, and you have a cherished place in the Community that God envisions. This is an aspect of the church’s incarnational ministry in the world.
Today’s Prayer
Gracious God, during this Lenten Season grant that your Church might answer the call to be present with suffering humanity. Help us to see the multitudes, to affirm that their lives matter, and to engage in ministries of healing, uplift, and transformation during this season. Even as we are physically distancing and sheltering in place, help us to creatively find ways to make your presence felt in the world around us, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash