Blessed Art Thou - If You Hunger for Justice

 Perhaps because we're into Holy Week now, with Easter so quickly approaching, I've been feeling solemn and reflective. I'm also still heartsick over the RFRA in Indiana, although I'm grateful for the number of friends and churches surrounding me who have asserted, firmly, that they believe in welcoming all who would come. 

In church Sunday, I believe that the Holy Spirit laid a passage of Scripture on my heart. It's well-known, in some ways, but I can't say that I've considered it enough. To be honest, I still think of it in the King James Version, despite having used the New International Version and then the New Revised Standard Version for the past several years. Pondering the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, linked to the Bible Gateway chapter) feels like a throwback to MAPS Bible study early in my college career in the Mason basement, sitting with a circle of women seeking relationship with Jesus and fellowship with others. Today, I'm sharing this passage in the New Living Translation. Although I know many consider this translation less rigorous than some others, I find that sometimes hearing the Scripture in more modern English hits me harder. Feel free to use the Bible Gateway link to toggle to your preferred translation.

The Sermon on the Mount

5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,^[a]
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
⁴ God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,^[b]
    for they will be satisfied.*
⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.
⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.*
¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.*

¹¹ “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

*Emphasis mine 

Some of these goals seem conflicting in the current cultural climate. It is a challenge to hunger for justice and work for peace. Jesus is the greatest representation of that - I think we often forget how confrontational He could be while at the same time seeking reconciliation for all to God. It is also easy to forget that our current struggles, persecution, and troubles, via gossip, political judgment, lack of civil rights, etc are nothing compared to the glory of God's kingdom of justice, mercy, grace, peace, and holiness coming, both on Earth and when we join our Savior in heaven.

I hope that reading this passage today will both convict us and lift up our faces.

P.S. I haven't forgotten that I promised a post about church-seeking, including the LGBT community in services, and evangelism to the LGBT community - and I'm still hoping to get it out in time for Easter. I just need to ponder a little more.