Blessed
Are you blessed? What makes you blessed? Are you blessed in ways which are unexpected?
We are blessed beyond measure. We are blessed in ways that we are not even aware that we are blessed. We are blessed in situations and through circumstances that are unexpected, unorthodox, unusual, and unimaginable.
In the Sermon on the Plain, in the Beatitudes, in Luke’s gospel account, Jesus “lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. ‘Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.” (Luke 6:20-22, ESV).
We often do not consider the things that are seen as troublesome, or a burden to us, could be a blessing in our lives from God’s perspective and in God’s kingdom economy.
As far as God is concerned, the poor possess his kingdom, the hungry are satisfied, those who mourn and weep will be cheered and will laugh, and those who are hated, excluded, criticized, treated with contempt, and maligned or slandered will be rewarded greatly by God in the restoration of all things-in God’s perfect kingdom.
God’s kingdom is an upside down economy where nothing is wasted or overlooked. God is in the blessing business. God is about redemption and restoration. God brings recompense and reward. God brings blessing!
May we see ourselves as blessed as children of God, and may we anticipate all God has in store for us in this life and in his eternal life to come.
A Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Epiphany, or Septuagesima (Lenten preparation): “Almighty God, look mercifully upon your people, that by your great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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