Sometimes the lectionary texts seem to speak to the heart of the struggle. I’m still wrestling with my mixed responses to the Women’s March this last weekend as I am confronted with God’s justice requirements. Reading these texts tells me that I can’t be angry when people show up for justice even if they are later to the game than I was (because I was a lot later than I should have been). I can’t be angry when people show up and still don’t fully grasp the wider issues circling around. I can’t be angry when people think that a march is all about the fun and sense of community that it produces and forget the justice issues by the time they get home. Why? Because they showed up and it isn’t too late, not really. There’s plenty of work to be done even for the late-comers and for the ones who haven’t really opened their eyes or their hearts. The work for justice never ends, right?
I read that familiar passage in Micah about what the Lord requires and I’m convicted all over again. I can’t be angry that so many folks remain oblivious to doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God because, well, I’m not always so good at it myself. As I sit in my privileged place, I see how easily I once believed that all the inequality and injustice were “normal” and, therefore, right. And how slow I was to awaken to the truth. I also see how I let anger consume and nearly destroy me and justify my poor treatment of my neighbors. And humility, the kind that allows me to be fully myself and allows others to be fully themselves, is a daily battle. God asks something of me every day that I am often reluctant to give. I must be part of the movement for justice for all people even if I get it wrong sometimes. I have to take the risk of showing up and speaking out. And when I get it wrong, I have to be willing to apologize and learn a better way. I want to live in God’s tent even when it makes me decidedly uncomfortable. How ‘bout you?
Now we come to the very familiar Gospel text, the Beatitudes. At the St. Paul, MN Women’s March this weekend, a colleague changed the list to be more inclusive and specific to the issues of today. She inspired me to come up with my own version:
Blessed are the forgotten and forsaken, the ones we walk by and overlook, for heaven will be their home.
Blessed are those mothers who rage against the deaths of their black and brown skinned children whose blood flows in our streets, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the faithful Muslims and Jews who live under threat of hateful bombs, for they will inherit the Earth.
Blessed are those transgender, queer, and gender-nonconforming people who hunger and thirst for recognition and welcome, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the fierce ones who risk speaking truth and acting with mercy, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the quiet ones who show up when no one else does to speak a word of hope, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers and the justice-seekers who push us beyond what is into what needs to be, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who have had hate thrown at them in Jesus’s name, for theirs will be the realm of heaven.
Blessed are you when you speak truth to power, when you step away from the center to make room for the marginalized, and when you awaken to the injustice all around you. Others will revile you, but you will be loved beyond your imagining and your reward will be immeasurable.
God’s wisdom often looks like foolishness. May we all have the courage to make fools out of ourselves for the sake of Love.
What are you thinking about these texts this week? Where is the Spirit gently leading or urgently pushing you? Please join the conversation below that we may take this journey together.
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ in Minneapolis, MN. You can find links to her blog, vlog, and books at Beachtheology.com.
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Photo: CC-BY-NC image by Rachael Keefe
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I’ve been thinking about two songs that are tugging at me, with regard to the beatitudes. The first is by Joan Baez:
“Blessed Are…”
Blessed are the one way ticket holders
On a one way street.
Blessed are the midnight riders
For in the shadow of God they sleep.
Blessed are the huddled hikers
Staring out at falling rain,
Wondering at the retribution
In their personal acquaintance with pain.
Blessed are the blood relations
Of the young ones who have died,
Who had not the time or patience
To carry on this earthly ride.
Rain will come and winds will blow,
Wild deer die in the mountain snow.
Birds will beat at heaven’s wall,
What comes to one must come to us all.
For you and I are one way ticket holders
On a one way street.
Which lies across a golden valley
Where the waters of joy and hope run deep.
So if you pass the parents weeping
Of the young ones who have died,
Take them to your warmth and keeping
For blessed are the tears they cried
And many were the years they tried.
Take them to that valley wide
And let their souls be pacified.
The second is by Lucinda Williams:
“Blessed”
We were blessed by the minister
Who practiced what he preached
We were blessed by the poor man
Who said heaven is within reach
We were blessed by the girl selling roses
Showed us how to live
We were blessed by the neglected child
Who knew how to forgive
We were blessed by the battered woman
Who didn’t seek revenge
We were blessed by the warrior
Who didn’t need to win
We were blessed by the blind man
Who could see for miles and miles
We were blessed by the fighter
Who didn’t fight for the prize
We were blessed by the mother
Who gave up the child
We were blessed by the soldier
Who gave up his life
We were blessed by the teacher
Who didn’t have a degree
We were blessed by the prisoner
Who knew how to be free
We were blessed
Yeah, we were blessed
We were blessed by the mystic
Who turned water into wine
We were blessed by the watchmaker
Who gave up his time
We were blessed by the wounded man
Who felt no pain
By the wayfaring stranger
Who knew our names
We were blessed by the homeless man
Who showed us the way home
We were blessed by the hungry man
Who filled us with love
By the little innocent baby
Who taught us the truth
We were blessed by the forlorn
Forsaken and abused
We were blessed
Yeah, we were blessed
Mmm, we were blessed
Yeah, we were blessed
We were blessed
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Thanks for sharing these songs. I’d forgotten about them…
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I didnt know either of these – but I enjoyed youtubing them. Since we’re folking out, here’s the one that’s familiar to me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-D3diwmS34
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Great Beatitudes! They really spoke to me as did you post. Thank you!!
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It’s funny, since I’ve written them several more have popped into my head: Blessed are the unjustly detained and wrongfully imprisoned for they shall be liberated from the ignorance and fear that oppresses them now. Blessed are those tormented in body, mind, or spirit and remain unseen by the comfortable for they shall find wholeness. I could go on, but I’ll stop for now…
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Right now I am toying with weaving the concepts of Micah and the Beatitudes together instead of getting into the specifics of the individual beatitudes.
Where I am at a loss is the children’s time for either text. Any ideas starting to germinate for anyone?
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Elaine, I will also be weaving the two texts together. I’m thinking of talking about kindness with the kids. I haven’t quite formulated how, but pointing out that we honor God, ourselves, and others when we are kind.
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A. Blessing jar, the song count your blessings, we receive blessings and we share blessings,
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I’m preaching on Matthew today (Wednesday). I went the opposite direction with re-writing the Beatitudes – I re-wrote them as the worldly “beatitudes” (Blessed are the rich, for they shall become richer etc.) to point out the contrast between what is valued in God’s kingdom and what the world values. Which set of promises are we going to trust?
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Kate, that sounds great! I had a conversation with colleagues at a text study group and we talked about what the Beatitudes did not say… like “Blessed are the comfortable for they shall remain uninvolved…”
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I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am still struggling to find words that are not hateful and judgmental for this week’s sermon. So I turned to prayer to find a better way. Here’s what I received: https://rachaelkeefe.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/a-pastoral-prayer-of-confession/
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Thank you for this prayer that is deep and offers so much collectively, for the whole people of God.
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You are most welcome! Thanks for reading!
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I am absolutely unable even to begin, for these reasons. I am so angry and– not quite despairing, but knowing that a small group in my congregation feel judged by my FB posts. I am really wondering how to do this.
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Pat, as hard as it may be, I think this is a time to trust the Holy Spirit. We must preach the Gospel as we are called and pray that hearts are softened.
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I’m thinking of “Blessed are” and “Blessed be” as indicators of relationship with the Holy One and hearing the beatitudes as guides to and declarations of relationship with God. My task tonight is not to proclaim or declare but to engender reflection and conversation and hearing the Gospel with new ears. Thanks for the songs, Jennifer and Pat.
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