Attitude

"The Beatitudes" by Kelly Latimore

Last weekend we began our summer sermon series on the Beatitudes from Jesus's "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 5.

Years ago now, when I first got into a solo pastorate, my late husband said, "Do the lists over the summer. You know, the ones everyone thinks they know what they mean. Do those, because I'm sure there's more to them and it's a long season of ordinary preaching otherwise."

This series was actually the first one I ever did (even if it's not the first one you all heard).

I began with the Beatitudes because they are central to who Jesus was as a teacher and essential to Christ's mission on earth - one which we continue.

What I quickly learned is that the beatitudes are not so much a set of people beloved by God (they are), but more of a ladder of faith. The "lowest rungs" are those things most people go through at some point in their life. They open us up to how God is moving in our lives. They get us ready for even greater and harder things.

From those starting points, we dive deeper and climb higher toward what faith in Jesus Christ really looks like.

It is not an easy walk. But it is the steps that Jesus's own feet have trod. The ones we are meant to follow.

This weekend we are still on rung number two: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

We will see what healing God has for all those who are hurting and the life that lay beyond.

Blessings,

Rev. Janie