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Gospel Text for Sunday, November 6th, 2011
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.
Reading Jesus’ list of the conditions of people who are blessed, “poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungry, pure, peacemakers, persecuted, falsely accused” the words of the singer and contemporary philosopher Sting came to mind –“ How fragile we are…” Fragile, vulnerable, tender, naked, exposed, sensitive and subject to all manner of threat,” fragile we are.” And Jesus is telling us that it is in our vulnerability, in our fragility that we are blessed.
ReplyDeleteBut that is not what we usually sing about. Isn’t it more like “I got the whole world in my hands…?” Aren’t we blessed when we are in control, not suffering loss, strong, satisfied, winners, on top or our game, clear minded, appreciated and applauded? Not according to Jesus.
In God’s economy, in the Kingdom of Heaven right here on earth, truly we are blessed as we recognize and consent to our fragility… we are blessed when we accept that we are fragile creatures on a fragile planet vulnerable in every way. By the very nature of our human condition we are spiritually vulnerable, emotionally vulnerable, socially vulnerable, physically vulnerable… “how fragile we are.” When we realize and accept our fragile vulnerable lives our hearts are transformed and we become merciful. Being merciful we receive mercy and our hearts are purified. With pure hearts we see God in the eyes and lives of every single other fragile being on this planet.
Here are the lyrics to Sting’s song “Fragile.”
If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
How fragile we are how fragile we are
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