"Blessed are they upon God's holy mountain": reflections on Luke 6:17-26

Currents in Theology and Mission, Dec, 2002 by David Berg

Psalm 139 says of God,

...it was you who formed
    my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully
    and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    that I know very well. (vv. 13-14)

Suddenly I recall the little girl from mere days before, literally starving, with almost no clothes, living in a landscape bearing little water, and in almost total isolation.

I lived with her in her need. I lived with the richness and splendor of the safari.

It is the same God.

The same God created this malnourished, starving child as created this plush, fertile land of staggering life and diversity.

It is the same God.

The same God who created and blessed me with riches, education, and opportunity also created the starving people who made sure I was fed first.

It is indeed the same God.

Hear Luke 6:17-26:

17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 'Woe to you who are full now, for you will be h ungry. 'Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 'Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

We are no longer strangers with anyone. We are all children of the same Creator God.

As the haunting, unpleasant, and ugly images of our lives dwell simultaneously with those of unparalleled beauty and breathtaking greatness, may we follow the example of our Creator God who was made known to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ ... and may we feed those who hunger, and help turn weeping into laughter, and walk in solidarity with those who are oppressed and persecuted--and may the reality of the kingdom of God be known in our world today.