Generally speaking I am a lectionary preacher. Where I serve now that fits this congregation. Although I do know some who would see value in something other than that. As I read the texts for Epiphany 4 which include Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15 & Matthew 5:1-12, I decided to pull and dust off my ole Works of "Johnny" Wesley. You know who that is right? I cannot remember when a Methodist at heart said the name without adding the phrase, "the founder of Methodist." What is that saying? That is for another blog post I believe.
But I pulled the book volumes 5 & 6 off the shelf and turned to his treatment of the Beatitudes. First I looked up the definition of Beatitudes.Certainly you will find many dictionary that tell you that the meaning is the statements made by Jesus. Other definitions mention the idea of utmost blessedness or happiness. Harper's Bible Dictionary says, "Many scholars believe that Luke’s Beatitudes, with their more direct reference to socioeconomic circumstances (e.g., ‘Blessed are you poor’), are more nearly original than are Matthew’s, which appear to represent a later, ‘spiritualizing’ tendency on the part of the church (e.g., ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’); others, however, disagree. Since the four Beatitudes of Luke reappear, with some modification, in Matthew, this interpretation concentrates on the latter."
Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985).
Harper's Bible dictionary. Includes index. (1st ed.) (100). San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Wesley writes: "Our Lord, First, lays down the sum of all true religion in eight particulars, which he explains, and guards against the false glosses of men, to the end of the fifth chapter.""Blessed are the poor in spirit...."
Wesley writes, "Poverty of spirit then, as it implies the first step we take in running the race which is set before us, is a just sense of our inward and outward sins, and of our guilt and helplessness." In others words our first step is recognizing we cannot do this alone and without God in Christ."
"Blessed are those who mourn..."
Wesley: "
The mourners of whom our Lord here speaks, are those that mourn on quite another account: They that mourn after God; after Him in whom they did "rejoice with joy unspeakable," when he gave them to "taste the good," the pardoning, "word, and the powers of the world to come.
But although this mourning is at an end, is lost in holy joy, by the return of the Comforter, yet is there another, and a blessed mourning it is, which abide sin the children of God. They still mourn for the sins and miseries of mankind: They "weep with them that weep." They weep for them that weep not for themselves, for the sinners against their own souls. They mourn for the weakness and unfaithfulness of those that are, in some measure, saved from their sins." So as we mourn after God we also mourn for those children of God and situations beyond us. In other words we move outside of our mourning to mourn for others. We move to see Christ in others as Christ is in us. Our spirit with Christ's.
My insight as I prepare to read more of Wesley's insights is that the first four are how we are to be with God and the others how we are to be with each other. I saw something once that interpreted it this way: BE-Attitudes
I am still reading but wanted to share a couple of Wesley's insights from his sermon. Amazing what we find when we go back to the basics of our denomination and faith. I pray as you worship this week and hear these beatitudes once more you will not only be blessed but be a blessing to others. Back to Mr. Wesley's sermons and cup of coffee.....
Peace
PS here is a great site for his works, journal and sermon. AND pic to the right is a church of the Church of the Beatitudes in Israel.
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Every week in our worship bulletin, there is something called, "For your Meditation." If find these things from various sources. Sometimes devotionals I have others from online postings or thoughts, hymn lyrics. Today as I was putting the bulletin together, I found the following. It comes out of a devotional book called His Promies:Devotions for Every Day of the Year. It covers writings by many theologians regarding promises of God/Jesus. It was put out by Integrity Publishers. I have had it for awhile but only recently pulled it off my shelf. Hope it speaks to you as it did to me today.
“All the promises God makes in nature, in Scripture, in history, and in the longings of personal experience find their yes in Him. The New Testament speaks of ‘the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’ Jesus is the upward call of God-calling us from the lower to the higher, the incomplete to the complete, the imperfect to the perfect. Everything in Jesus is upward. Everything outside Jesus is downward. An African after he was converted renamed himself ‘After.’ Everything to him was ‘After’- after death, after sin, after sorrow, after frustration, after alienation. Now everything had promise in it-had a future. In sin there is no future-it is the way of decay and death. Jesus is the Yes to all the promises of God made everywhere. There are thirty-three thousand promises in the Scriptures, and Jesus is the Yes to every one of them. He writes ‘Yes’ in His own blood on every promise. If you come in His name, you can have them cashed in experience.”
E. Stanley Jones, in His Promises Daily Devotional
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I
hardly ever post twice in one day but this came to mind...a little less serious but maybe not so much. Was doing my usual shopping at our local Wal-Mart and needed vitamins. I have been taking them most of my life. Usually I reach for the name brand but lately have been buying more generic. What made this shopping trip was my birthday in December. By now you may start raising and eyebrow and saying, "Huh?" That was when I turned 49. I reached the shelf to grab the usual high energy vitamins. You know the ones with the extra boost and stuff to help your mental acuity. For those I know who are thinking it, and you know who you are... Watch it! LOL.
Anyway I put them back and reached for the "Mature" vitamins. You know the ones where the label says for those "50 or over"? They over call them something other than "mature" like "silver." I chuckled a little to myself and and said, "Why not get an early start?" I dropped the "Mature" vitamins in my cart.
As I finished my shopping I got starting thinking about the word "mature." An Online Dictionary defines the mature as:
1.a. Having reached full natural growth or development: a mature cell.b. Having reached a desired or final condition; ripe: a mature cheese. 2. Of, relating to, or characteristic of full development, either mental or physical: mature for her age.
3.a. Suitable or intended for adults: mature subject matter. b. Composed of adults: a mature audience.
4. Worked out fully by the mind; considered: a mature plan of action.
5. Having reached the limit of its time; due: a mature bond.
6. No longer subject to great expansion or development. Used of an industry, a market, or a product.
7. Geology Having reached maximum development of form. Used of streams and landforms.
Well my wondering and wandering brain began to wish there was a pill we could take to be mature Christians. Sadly it is a maturation process. It is a matter of living the life as Christ as taught and living a disciplined life at that. Reading the Bible, Worship together, Holy Conferencing, Partaking in Holy Communion and setting apart time in Prayer. There is no other way to be able to be who God calls us to be. Form some this is a huge "pill" to swallow. There is no easy fix. There is no easy path. Only if we can enter the narrow gate; a gate which leads us to a path of righteousness, forgiveness, mercy and grace. And don't worry, if you get lost, if you take the wrong path. There is always a road which can lead you back to renew your journey. Christ will lead you. But one day you may be on the path and someone needs to find the way back. Then it will be your turn to shine the light on that path and lead them home.
So I may have to start taking mature vitamins for my physical health. However, I need to do the hard work of living and doing the work to be a mature Christian who is not in a cycle of erosion. Which reminds me of a sign a saw
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Generally speaking I am a lectionary preacher. Where I serve now that fits this congregation. Although I do know some who would see value in something other than that. As I read the texts for Epiphany 4 which include Micah 6:1-8, Psalm 15 & Matthew 5:1-12, I decided to pull and dust off my ole Works of "Johnny" Wesley. You know who that is right? I cannot remember when a Methodist at heart said the name without adding the phrase, "the founder of Methodist." What is that saying? That is for another blog post I believe.
Wesley writes: "Our Lord, First, lays down the sum of all true religion in eight particulars, which he explains, and guards against the false glosses of men, to the end of the fifth chapter."
PS here is a great site for his works, journal and sermon. AND pic to the right is a church of the Church of the Beatitudes in Israel. 
