Today we hear the Beatitudes from Luke, which are a little different from the ones we are more familiar with from Matthew. Given on a plain, not a mountain. Instead of “Blessed are the poor in spirit”, we have “Blessed are the poor”. Instead of “Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness”, we have “Blessed are those that hunger”. Luke also has woes for those who are rich, full, happy… These are revolutionary words.
Liberation Theology takes these words and casts Jesus and the church as the vanguard of a revolution. Social justice is everything we should be about. What is interesting is when any supporter of any cause can claim Jesus for their side.
Jesus is a revolutionary, for sure, but maybe not exactly in the mold you’re trying to fit him into. Rather than claiming Jesus for our cause, making us and our cause the most important and special, we need to put Christ at the center and let everything flow from that.
Pastor Mark Summer’s sermon for Zion Lutheran Church of Oldwick, NJ on Ferbruary 17, 2019.
Zion Lutheran Church has been Connecting People with God’s Grace for over 300 years.