Faith Refleciton 

The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount

Luke 6:17. 20-26

We are perhaps more familiar with the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew in which the kingdom of heaven is promised to those who are ‘blessed’ because of their afflictions. Rather than the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Luke presents the same event and teaching as the sermon on the plain as it occurs on ‘a piece of level ground’. This version may appear a little more confronting than the Matthew version. Rather than the afflicted being ‘blessed’, they are to be ‘happy’. It seems odd that anybody should be happy to be poor, hungry, mourning or reviled and we would certainly regard these as states of sadness and difficulty; not times for rejoicing at our good fortune! However, this gospel in particular frequently reminds us that God does not think, feel and behave as we might expect. God’s actions are frequently contrary to the expectations of society. 

The Gospel of Luke makes it plain that the reign of God will upend the structures of society. The lowly will be raised and the mighty will be brought low. It is in this context that the poor, the hungry and the outcast are regarded as happy. 

Their happiness comes from the reassurance that although they are rejected and dismissed by society, they are indeed the most favoured of God. Whatever the world dishes up to such as these, they can rejoice in the knowledge that in the reign of God their fortunes will be reversed and they will be favoured. However, just as the fortunes of the poor and afflicted will be reversed for the better, those who are rich, well fed, happy and well regarded will also have their fortunes reversed. Alas to them! Their comfort and joy leaves no room for the generosity of God!

by Greg Sunter