The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, February 3rd: Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13; 1 Corinthian 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12)

BEATITUDE PROMISES PERSECUTION

In this week’s gospel reading we hear the Beatitudes, the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes (blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are the merciful, etc.) explain the way our hearts and minds should be if we truly wish to have a proper relationship with God. Being meek and humble and forgiving are essential; being arrogant and prideful and deceptive are bad news.

I don’t know about you, but these particular instructions are awfully hard to put into practice. It’s so much more natural to be competitive and scheming, vindictive and cruel. “Looking out for number one” usually means making sure everyone else is number two or lower.

Following Jesus’ instructions is indeed unnatural. That’s why we need supernatural help to do it. Do you think Mother Teresa was the way she was naturally? That she was just “born that way”? The only way she, or any one of us, can possibly live according the Beatitudes is if we let God’s Spirit dwell within us and take charge of our lives.

It’s like St. Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Paul was talking about having God’s Spirit renew our minds and transform our whole being into new creations. It’s the only way we can possibly make the Beatitudes a part of our lives. We can’t do it on our own. (On our own, we wouldn’t WANT to do it. To the natural mind, the Beatitudes are completely loony. How can someone succeed in this harsh world by purposely being a wimp? It’s only from God’s point-of-view that we see that it’s better to give than receive, better to be humble than prideful, etc.)

All of the Beatitude blessings describe a godly attitude or action and then give the resulting reward for it. All, that is, except one. The very last “Blessed are…” that Jesus offered does not deal with a particular personality trait we should strive for. It discusses what is likely to happen to us because we follow Jesus.

The last Beatitude says: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me….your reward will be great in heaven.”

OK, that great reward in heaven part ain’t so bad. But what about the first part? Insults, persecutions, false accusations? Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve already got enough troubles.

Jesus knew from the start that people who followed Him were going to rub other people the wrong way. And I’m not talking about crusaders, inquisitors, racists, chauvinists, etc. who distort the Gospel for their own selfish purposes. I’m not even talking about the knuckleheads on TV who are always begging viewers to get out the checkbook and send in another “love offering.” I’m talking about those folks who do it right: the people who successfully combine genuine love and mercy for their fellow man with an understanding that God has proclaimed a very clear definition of right and wrong.

I know all about the insults and false accusations to which Jesus referred. No, not because I’ve been on the receiving end of this kind of persecution. (You see, hanging around almost exclusively with “my own kind” and presenting my opinions from the solitude of a computer keyboard significantly cuts down the chances of confrontation and conflict.)

My understanding of this last Beatitude is based on plenty of experience from the giving end of the insults and false accusations. Way back in my hedonistic atheist days, there was nothing that would tick me off quicker than some Christian saying that God loved me and had a wonderful plan for my life. And the more sincere and humble he or she was, the more angry I’d get.

The insults and put-downs and sarcastic comments would stream out of me like Don Rickles on crack. I’d accuse them of all kinds of sinister hidden motives. They wanted to take over the country; they wanted to oppress people; they wanted my money; they wanted to keep women barefoot and pregnant; and worst of all, they wanted to IMPOSE their intolerant values on me.

But deep down what really angered me (scared me?) about those Christians was the possibility that they might be right. If they were right, if there really was a divine Being who created the world, then that meant I was not the center of the universe. I could not define right and wrong for myself. I could not do whatever I wanted whenever I felt like it. It was a scenario which directly challenged my stubborn pride. The easiest and most effective defense mechanism was anger.

Jesus knew that many people would react angrily to the Gospel message. To accept Jesus’ teachings means we must stop worshipping ourselves and worship God instead. It’s not easy. But if we can get past our stubborn pride, the blessings and rewards that God showers upon us are truly amazing.

©2008