In The Moment

Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes are a familiar passage to many of us. The listing of those who will be blessed for various reasons can make for a series of blogs in and of themselves. What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? What are those who mourn mourning for? Is being a peacekeeper by using force included?

So many questions, so many answers, so many ideas to feed one's ideology. But which answer is the right one?

This passage begins with Jesus seeing the crowds and going up a mountain, seemingly away from them. He sits, maybe to collect his thoughts, maybe to rest, maybe to just be alone for a while. His respite doesn't last long, though, as his disciples come to join him.

It's in this moment, in that moment when Jesus is searching for rest and realizing rest will never come again (at least not in the way he'd like it) that he decides to teach. Yes, Jesus was in a teaching moment. He saw the opportunity and grasped it to say the words which follow in this passage to his students. Be gentle of spirit, always strive to do what is right, forgive people and help them to forgive each other, and above all, don't worry about what others say about you because you're doing these things just as those who spoke the truth in God's love did before you.

Sometimes when I read this passage I imagine Jesus might just be talking to himself. If we take a look at the rest of the story in Matthew, Jesus lives these words in every story told about him. Not only does Jesus teach with his words in a quiet moment at the top of a hill, he lives those words with and among everyone he meets.

Can we do the same? As Christians we should do our best to try. Will we be perfect? No, but don't let that stop you.

Matthew shares with us an intimate moment between Jesus and his students. Jesus shares with his students how to live a life which shows God's love. Let's be true disciples and live as Jesus asks us, and share this same love of God with all.