Sermon on the Mount (A Remix)

The Blessed:

Blessed are the poor in spirit and the poor, the people who don’t get it, the impoverished, the ones on the “b” team of life, the one who gets picked last, the spiritual and social zeroes, the ones who continue to stumble…. that's where the kin-dom is.

Blessed are those who mourn: the broken-hearted, the devastated, the grief-stricken, the ones familiar with the feeling and taste of their own tears. From communities fresh off of senseless violence to those grappling with loss of loved ones. That is where the kin-dom is.

Blessed are the meek: The unnoticed, the passed over, the bullied, the marginalized, the discriminated against, those who lack power and choice, the migrant laborers, and the inner city families. That's where the kin-dom is.

Blessed are the hungry and thirsty both for righteousness and physical sustenance: Those who are haunted by a lack of justice, who ache for the Peace of God to go into the very depths of their existence, for all things to be put right, those who feel in their very bones the pain of their own inadequacy to change the way the world works; those who physically hunger. That's where the kingdom is.

Blessed are the merciful: the ones who smile at strangers, the ones who feel the pain at the pillaging of the planet, the blanket givers, the meal servers, those who seek to welcome the refugees of violence, unrest, and climate, the huggers. That's where the kin-dom is.

Blessed are the pure in heart: the ones whose hearts and minds focus outward on others, sacrifice, sharing, and selflessly giving to see others be made new, There is purity within in order to express love out. That's where the kin-dom is.

Blessed are the peacemakers: people who strive to see God’s Shalom, bringers of simple smiles and authentic joy. Those who seek the vision of the prophets turning spears into plowshares. That's where the kingdom is.

Blessed are the persecuted: Those beaten and abused, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually for who they are. For the victims of senseless violence, continued poverty, systemic hate, and the constant lies told to them that they do not bear the image of God.

Blessed are you when life is hard because you have committed to live from this place I offer of fullness. Blessed are you when you are pushed around, ignored, and humbled because you have dared to care for those who need it the most.

Purpose:

You are made with a purpose. You are made to be you. Think about things like salt and light - they have set purposes that bring restoration, preservation, and sight to the world. You are like those things: Salt - to keep things and people together. Light, to show the world that there IS a more abundant and life-giving way. You do these things not out of selfishness, but to point the world to God who sees us all out of love. LOOK! I’m not here to throw away the things said before me. Not the books of Moses or the Prophets - their wisdom and passion for justice is true. No, I have come to make those ideas FULL. I’m telling you this, unless your right relationship is greater than those who consider themselves the best religious people, you will never experience the fullness of God’s kingdom.

Humanity and Dignity of All:

You know that they said this back in the day: “Do not kill. Whoever kills will be placed in judgment”. But I’m making this bigger - If you are even angry at someone, you find yourself in the same place inside. If you insult someone, using your words to tear them down - you do the same thing. If you say, “You idiot”, you are liable to the painful place of being alone. So when you are on your way to participate in the community of God, and remember that there is something separating you from a sibling of this big human family, stop, turn around, and go and fix it. Heal and reconcile - in the same way God does. You don’t want to be in a place where someone holds something up over you for some way that you have wronged them - it’s true - you won’t get out of that easily.

You know they said it back in the day, “You should not cheat on your partner”, But I am making it bigger - I tell you if you even look at a person and erase their dignity by making them an object of your desire, you have done the same thing. If your eyes cause you to trip up, it’s not the person you looked at’s fault - it is you. It would be a more full way to live if you were blind than live in a way that is living into that abundant loneliness. If you attempt to physically take advantage - it would be better to have no limbs than to live in a way that leads to loneliness.

It also used to be said that “if you felt like leaving your family, fine - just make it official!”. But I tell you, if you simply leave someone behind, removing them from your life and removing from them your care, protection, provision, and more, you have fallen far from the way of our parent in heaven. People are not disposable to God. And when you act like they are, you ignore the very humanity and dignity God has asked you to acknowledge.

Again - it has been said, Do not make false promises, leading people to hope and then turning your back on them - carry out the vows you make to the Lord. But I tell you, don’t make promises at all - either by God’s name or your mom’s name. Do not make promises based on how you think you can fulfill them - instead, use yes when you mean it and no when you mean it. Anything else comes from the one who desires us to be separate.

You know the way it has been seen is this: Everything done to one can be done to another, retaliate and get the justice you deserve - But I tell you to do things differently. Do not turn anyone away. If someone strikes you causing humiliation, lean in and take from them the power they think they have. No one can take away your dignity and humanity. If anyone takes from you the things that you feel are yours, offer more - why? Because they can not take the core of you who you are. If someone in authority over you makes you do a task you don’t want, do more than asked - again, you keep for yourself the humanity that has always been yours. Give to those who ask, and don’t reject those who desire to borrow.

Enemy Love:

You know it has been said - “Love the people like you and hate the people who are different than you. But I want this from you, and it is hard: Love all, unconditionally. Pray for the well-being of those who treat you poorly. This is what you do when you are in the family of God. Why? Because God does this - God makes the sun shine down on all peoples and sends rain down on those who have all or have none. If you only care about the people who are like you - what difference is that from the culture around you? Don’t the people at school, work, church, and more do this very thing? No instead be complete and whole in your love - just like God who is the head of our family.

Watch out for the urge to be overly religious so you can make others see you favorably, for that leads to no life which is a gift from God. So whenever you do give, whether to churches, communities, people, organizations, or more, do not announce it, celebrating the big deal it may be - that’s why hypocrites give - to get credit, to get something for what they have done. I tell you, they have already received their reward, attention - for that is what they are after. But when you give, keep it close to your heart - so that your giving and charity is sent and received from a whole and complete place - then God, who sees this at your core, will reward you - with abundant life.

Prayer :

The same is true about when you pray - don’t you know about the influencers and preachers who parade and pretend all over social media - they love to make people see their actions of “righteousness”. Remember, they have already received their reward - attention. But when you pray, go and pray in private - participate in the divine life in your own space. Then, God, who is like our parent, sees what is done in your own way and will reward you - with abundant life.

When you are praying, don’t just ramble on and on, using catchy phrases to make those around you go “ooh” or “oh amen” , or “yes lord” - too many people think the more words they use the more likely God will hear them. Don’t do that. God knows in the moment what it is you are praying for because God knows you completely. Trust God in your prayers.

LORDS PRAYER:

So when you do pray, which you should, this is the way:

Our All-Loving Parent in Heaven, may we see your name and presence as special.

May your way of flourishing, justice, and thriving happen here - right now on earth as you already see happening where your rule is realized.

Give us the nourishment we need for today, removing our anxieties and worries about tomorrow.

Forgive us in the same way that we forgive others, with abundance and generosity.

Lead us on the path away from our trials, and rescue us from the presence of the one who would see us do evil.

This way in Action:

I tell you, the way that you forgive is how you will be forgiven by God our communal parent. If you hold onto a grudge or anger towards someone else, you won’t know what forgiveness feels like - you will never believe that God has forgiven you. Free yourself from that burden.

And when you fast, don’t do it to look sad and miserable - that’s how the ones who use religion for a show do it - they grumble and groan and make sure all know they are fasting. I’m telling you, they already have received what they are looking for - attention. But when you, as children of our God fast, take care of yourself. Be joyful and live light - so that your fasting isn’t a cause of attention from those around you, but God, who is our parent in secret, will see this and will reward you.

Don’t start storing up things for yourself on earth, possessions, and privileges - these things all fade away, they fall apart, they get lost or taken. But instead store up things in the divine realm, the world of God - these things are eternal - nothing can break them down, nothing can destroy or take them from you. I’m telling you, don’t focus on physical things here, but on things that are internal - not clothes or possessions, but experiences of joy and peace - things like this are yours now and into eternity.

The eye is like a lamp of the body - it shapes and affects the way you see the world from the inside out. If your view of yourself and others is healthy, then your body is like it’s full of light! But if you belittle yourself and think poorly of others, then you’re heavy and dark - your lamp drags you down. That darkness is quite the weight!

You can’t serve two masters fully - for you will learn to have a favorite one, loving the one and hating the other. No, you can’t be devoted to God and to personal wealth and glory. Both desire your trust, but only God is worthy of it.

Anxieties and Trust:

So I tell you, then, hold loose your worries - the stresses and anxieties of life, things like images and tasks. Is not life more than what we wear and what we do, but more important about how we be? Look up - see those birds, they don’t plot and plan their next meal - they simply exist, trusting that the God who created them has their backs. Are you not created by the same God? You will not add anything worth clinging to by building up the stress of your life.

Look around, the wildflowers in bloom in the desserts, on the mountains, all around - they are stunning- and they did nothing but trust that there would be abundance. Abundance of rain, sun, and soil. How much more precious could you be! If God covers the hills of the earth this way, how might God see you? So remember - do not worry, thinking, “Am I enough?”, “Am I good?” or “Am I loved” - for the culture of the world asks those questions and your heavenly parent knows they go through your mind - But seek first the ways of God and God’s relational goodness and you will trust the answer to those questions is yes. So don’t worry about what is coming down the road, Live here and now and trust that God is with you.

Do not judge others, this is so you can avoid judgment. The way that you look and think of others is the way you think and look at yourself - you become judged the way that you judge. Why notice something small about those around, you when you yourself have significant work to grow in? How could you say - “Hey - you think too highly of yourself!” All the while you wake up each day and only care about how you can flex on others. Or how could you say “Hey - be nicer to me” all the while you make others get out of your way so you can get what you want? You are being so fake - first work on your own vibe - then you can move freely to help others along.

Think about this! I am telling you it is better to entrust yourself to God and to entrust others to God. As you align yourself with the way of the kingdom of God you see it all differently. Don’t waste your emotional energy on those who cannot care for you. Do not take your good gifts and put them in front of those who are not ready to receive them - they will turn and judge you, and lead you to a place where you want to respond the same.

I’m teaching you about trust - if you ask for something, trust that God provides. If you search for something, trust that you would find it. If you knock on a door, trust that it would be opened. When we open ourselves up to the possibility of creating alongside God - we will be surprised.

If any of you were a parent, and your kid came up to you asking for fruit snacks, would you give your kids rocks? Or if your child asked for chicken nuggets, would you give them a poisonous snake? Of course not! You know that this is ridiculous - and if you, who can’t always get it right would provide in abundance for your child, trust this - how much more would God provide as our perfect parent?

The way continued:

In all the things you do and say, in the way that you live your life - do to everyone else how you wish you would be treated - with humanity, dignity, and respect. This is a summary to remember of all the Law and the Prophets.

Choose the difficult path - the gate that is narrow, for the gate of selfishness, is wide and the road of personal gain is easy - that leads to lonely living and destruction, most people take this path. But the gate of selflessness is narrow. And the road of putting others first is hard to take - so hard, most don’t find it - but it leads to an abundant kind of life.

Watch out for those who want you to listen to them for attention - they come forward as trendy, but are empty inside - you know it’s this way because of their lives. You wouldn’t go search for avocados on a thorn bush, you wouldn’t look for almonds in the weeds - in the way that trees of their kind grow when they are cared for, the same is true of people. (SLIDE) A healthy and whole tree produces healthy and whole fruit - you all can be good trees - we know what’s going on inside by what is happening outside.

Not everyone who simply says “Jesus is Lord” enters the kin-dom of heaven - The kin-dom is a way to live, living out the will and way of our Parent in heaven. On the day when things are made new, lots and lots of people will say, did we not do huge things in your name? And because their lives and their faith were built on self-preservation, recognition, and ego - my response from me will be “I never knew you; leave me, those who used my name for selfish reasons.”

For the people that hear these words and respond through their life lived - you will be considered like the wise! Someone who would build a home on a firm and solid foundation. Life will get messy, and storms will come, but your foundation will hold. And for the people who hear these words and instead continue on in selfish ways, building up their house of faith on their own self-interest - they are like an idiot - who would build a house on a foundation that erodes and disappears quickly. Then the storms of life will hit and they will find that their home does not hold.