At Christmas time, I pointed out that Matthew and Luke are the evangelists who gave us all the birth narrative material, and that John and Mark said nothing about a manger, Magi, Bethlehem, and all the other elements of our Christmas story. Similarly, Matthew and Luke give us the “beatitudes” that are associated with what’s known as “the sermon on the mount” (in Matthew). However, Luke’s presentation of them occurs on the PLAIN and not a mountain. Moreover, Luke only lists 4 while Matthew cites 8.
Why the difference? Luke reports a geography in which Jesus spoke these words, and it appears to be a Gentile region of the Holy Land. This is in keeping with Luke’s overall focus—that Jesus came not just for the Israelites but for ALL people. The Christian message isn’t intended just for tribal people or citizens of the Roman empire, but for people who live in the 4 directions—everywhere in the world, Black, White, Asian, and everyone in between. Jesus’s message was a “catholic” message. That is, “universal.”
Matthew, on the other hand, addresses his gospel to Jewish converts. His audience knows the Hebrew scriptures well—which is why you find in his Gospel the most number of quotes from the “Old” testament. His audience would right away associate Jesus telling of the beatitudes on a mountain top because it was a mountain top on which patriarch Moses received the 10 commandments. It seemed only right that Jesus would associate the 10 commandments with the Beatitudes when telling us afresh as to how we should live our lives,
Picture yourself being in the crowd that day and feeling as if Jesus was referring to you in one or more of the “Blessed” he mentioned. You go up to him afterward and ask him something to the effect: “Were you referring to me in what you just said?” Jesus smiles silently at you and you get a really strong sense of bonding with this man, this brother, this neat guy who made you feel you were really special. You can’t help but smile back and the two of you share a parting hug as he moves into the crowd (all of them feeling a sense of affirmation just as you do).
Were he to visit us today, I think you’d hear something to this effect: “Blessed are the lectors. Blessed are choir members. Blessed are the ushers, the communion distributors, committee members, and collection counters—and all who try to serve the faith community in different ways. Blessed are you who feel alone but still smile at others and try to be friendly. Blessed are you who feel blue but realize that others may feel even worse—so you direct a smile their way. Blessed are those in hospice care who seek comfort. Blessed are you who come to mass—and who bring a smile to God’s face.
The “Sermon on the Mount/Plain” was God speaking to the hearts of all listeners—reminding them that they are loved by their Creator. In line with this thought, I had an experience this past week which brought God’s affirmation to mind. It occurred when shown the photo of a parishioner taken 3 decades ago. The photo showed a young person in a college gym—smiling for the camera along with friends who were playing basketball but who stopped to get a group photo.
What came to mind was that this person, and the others, have had their successes and have demonstrated their competence in the workplace, been good family and community members, and are all-around good folks. However, God’s love for each one transcends whatever good or bad deeds they’ve performed, or mistakes they’ve made, or awards won. Each person, as Scripture states, is “God’s work of art.” Each is blessed in their own way. The parish person in the photo tries—maybe like others in the photo—to become the best version of themselves by belonging to a faith-community.
You are working on the best version of yourself, with others, when you are present at Mass.
Whenever I mention some real-life issue in a homily, or offer some reflection on what I think our response as Catholics should be to some political problem, I (and any clergy person from any Christian church) run the risk of stepping on someone’s toes. This usually occurs when addressing some specific current issue. I, too, have been in the pews when a speaker advanced a position that I think is not consistent with what the Gospel says. Please know that my concern is what Jesus would say–and nothing else. I do not belong to any political party and profess allegiance first to God. My pastoral focus is aimed at providing parishioners some sense of how our Catholic tradition applies to our contemporary world. If what I say conflicts with your thinking, it is not because I wish to be combative or controversial. I’m simply trying my best to state what I understand to be God’s perspective on one or another issue.
What follows is an article written by John Pavlovitz, a former pastor whose commentaries might conflict with your thinking but which I think are solid Christian teachings on the American socio-political scene. His is a voice I tap and share with you because he addresses topics better than I do. So I share his thoughts with you because I know he speaks with authority and sees contemporary issues through a Gospel lens. With protesters on the streets of Hemlock and throughout the nation, I think it is important that you see why so many Christians (and others) are rightly concerned about Mr. Trump’s leadership. The author addresses this topic well when he wrote to Country-singer Carrie Underwood who performed at the inauguration. His letter captures what many clergy say about what’s happening in D.C.
Dear Carrie Underwood,
I’m writing because I’ve heard you speak eloquently about your Christian faith in the past, watched you perform a song about the beautiful mystery of baptism, often listened to your now-ubiquitous invocation for Jesus to take the wheel: to guide the life you live and to let his will direct your path.
I also know that you’ve been a role model for girls and young women all over this nation, obviously well-aware of your influence on them. Given these things, as a former pastor and the father of a girl myself, I wonder how you reconcile your personal faith with a performance at the Inauguration of Donald Trump.
As a woman and professed follower of Jesus, exactly how do you make sense of using your tremendous gifts to celebrate an adjudicated rapist; a man accused by dozens of women of assault, harassment, and misconduct; a man who once said that if his daughter were not a blood relation, that he might be dating her?
I’m curious to hear you explain what message you think it sends to millions of survivors of sexual assault, who will watch you contribute to the coronation of a human being whose entire life, business history, and political career have been marked by the most vile, dehumanizing, and misogynistic language about and behavior toward women? Recall his entering the dressing room of the Miss Teen contestants unannounced and making them feel quite uncomfortable.
This is to say nothing of his 34 felony counts, his many indictments for high crimes, his near superhuman inability to speak truthfully, or his continual verbal attacks on immigrants, LGBTQ human beings, people of color, and all Americans who did not vote for him.
As a declared Christian, you shared the spotlight while California burned and millions of its people were in the most dire need—and he spewed a steady stream of social media insults, lies, and abject hatred? Where is the Jesus in any of this, Carrie?
What in the teachings of Jesus make it acceptable to partner with Donald Trump on any level? Where have you seen him love his neighbor, help heal the sick, feed the poor, welcome the stranger, care for the least of these? When exactly have you witnessed him embodying the peacemaking, humble, kindhearted directives of the Beatitudes? How precisely have you seen Donald Trump live a love and compassion that bears any resemblance to Jesus? I’m not being rhetorical here or trying to insult you, I’d really like to know.
I understand you have boys of your own. I’m wondering when they grow up, if you’d like them to emulate Donald Trump, if you’ll approve of them treating women the way he has, if you’d be proud to have them speak about people the way he does. Carrie, I don’t know you and so I can’t judge your heart or declare your motives or evaluate your faith and wouldn’t attempt to. I can only tell you what I see from where I stand (Jesus called it, describing the tangible fruit of someone’s outward actions.) By their fruit you will know them.
And what I see from here, is an incredibly influential, talented woman who has chosen to wear her faith proudly on her sleeve—also choosing to use her gifts for an event devoted to perhaps the most predatory, most divisive, and least Christlike human being on the planet. As someone who spent decades learning and sharing the teachings of Jesus, none of it makes any sense.
So, if you’re able, with some specificity, please share with me, with the tens of millions of Christians in this country, with the women who are being legislatively silenced by him,
with the immigrants and refugees and foreigners he is persecuting, with the poor and elderly and vulnerable he is preying upon, and with the people of California and North Carolina whose unfathomable suffering he is exploiting and exacerbating right now—exactly how you feel Jesus is steering this decision. To be honest, I thought I’d be in good company.
I assumed that most Christian people would dismiss Trump out-of-hand, naming his vile behavior as the very immoral sickness Jesus spent his life and ministry warning his followers to fiercely resist. Boy, was I wrong!
John Pavlovich is an author/speaker on Christian spirituality found on the Internet.