According to Jesus. Those with an unsatisfied ache in their bellies. As are the thirsty, with their parched mouths. Luke presents hunger and thirst literally: those who long for the basic food and drink they need to survive. Matthew presents it figuratively: those who long for the justice that humanity needs to survive. 

Whichever evangelist you prefer, both are uncomfortable beatitudes to live with. Because the beatitude of the world runs the opposite direction: The well-fed are blessed; those satisfied with the unjust status quo are blessed. The winners of the world, the in crowd, are those who like things just the way they are, thank you very much.

According to Jesus. And he says that the payoff is pretty high. So that’s good.

But, dang, it’s hard to be meek.

It’s disadvantageous to be meek in a world whose own beatitude says that the powerful and presumptuous are blessed. Those who seek after power and are pushy with with their influence in order to get their way. The winners of the world are the bullies.

But only temporarily. 

According to Jesus. Those who have lost what is dear to them. Those who can barely hold on. Those whose grief feels more real than the sunshine outside. Those whose hearts break not merely for their own misfortune, but also for the plight of the world.

The beatitude of the world says that the happy-go-lucky are the ones who must be truly blessed. Truly favored. Truly happy. They’re the real winners of the world. The ones who win friends and influence people. Let’s be honest—they’re much more fun to be around than the mourners.

According to Jesus in Matthew 5. They who are part of the out crowd are actually part of the in crowd of the Kingdom of God.

The Beatitude of the world says, “Blessed are the rich, for they will have everything they want.” The rich are the real favored, privileged, and happy winners of the world. Especially in a capitalistic and materialistic society like our own.

But here’s the bummer: Such outward comforts are their own reward. When it’s gone, it’s gone. As Luke says in his corresponding woe, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” Wealth can attain a certain level of comfort in this today, but it is terribly inadequate to attain comfort in the never-ending Kingdom of God.

Two days ago was Epiphany. And also an opportunity for an epiphany. 

For Christians, at least those who pay attention to the liturgy of the Christian calendar, Epiphany marks the day when the Magi visited the infant Christ. Gifts fit for a King’s palace were brought to a commoner’s barn. The fanfare was quiet, almost entirely unnoticed by the rest of the world, but it was real. Here was the true King!

The government of not just one nation, but of the entire world, would one day rest on his shoulders. Every political, military, economic, and cultural power on earth was very quietly yet emphatically put on notice. A transfer of power was subtly imminent. 

Sometimes it’s all just loaves and fishes. The most we have to bring is less than the bare minimum needed. But it’s what we’ve got. 

The good news is that God is a God of miracles and multiplication. In the giving away the little we have, more is received. 

Usually requires ending something old. Either bringing it to completion, delegating all responsibilities to someone else, or scrapping it altogether. Old is not necessarily worse or less desirable than new; it may, simply be in the way.

Is what you were created to do?

Empty the dishwasher. Call your insurance company. Visit a neighbor. Text your mom. Sweep the dog hair off of the floor. Warm up last night’s leftovers. Send that email. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors. Take out the trash.

Just the next, simple, boring, unexciting thing.

It only depends on when you start counting.

Our gregorian calendar started counting yesterday. 

According to the Christian calendar, the new year began 34 days ago on the first Sunday of Advent. 

We’re often told to vote based on our values. Which is probably good advice. The difficulty is that our values are many, and no one candidate or party shares those values in the same way. So we have to prioritize which values to promote above the others.

But as I head out to vote today, another possibility came to me: What if we voted based on our sins? What if we voted as repentance?

Follow me here.

Whatever is meant by “sin” matters and greatly influences what is meant by “repent.” I’m going with these definitions: