If, when you read the Gospel from Luke 6 you noticed that it was familiar but also a bit different than you remembered, you might have been thinking about the reading from Matthew 5. As we know the Gospels are written by different people, but some of the content has been taken from another. There are differences like I said, between Matthew and Luke’s version of these stories. So could they be two separate stories that Jesus told or are they the same story, with an emphasis on different parts in order to get the author’s message across?
The crisis with the homeless is not getting any better and with the future of higher interest rates, it could get worse. Many people look away or move to another side of the street when we see someone who is dirty or socially different. It is human to be afraid sometimes, but what we need to realize is that they are in need of help.
Both are the Beatitudes. According to Bible Study Tools, the words from Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount, outline Jesus’ idea of a fulfilled spiritual life in Christ, whereas the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Plain (Luke’s passage) deal with how to respect economic and social differences. Another difference is the number of Beatitudes; 5 from Luke and 9 from Matthew.
Matthew’s sermon was focused on a Jewish group, outlining how to be obedient to God, whereas Luke’s version was for Gentiles who may not be used to the Jewish laws.
So, either way you look at them, Jesus was teaching the listeners in his time and us today, how to live a Godly life. Some of the stories in the Bible are not as easy to translate to our time here in our time, but this one is much easier.
Since the Sermon on the plain is dealing with how to respect economic and social differences, this reading once again, is directly related to my ministry with the less fortunate in the city of St. Catharines. Before taking on the ministry of working with the needy, I really never noticed how many topics from the Bible can relate to what I do. The first thing that I was reminded of, was how some of the clients of the breakfast program help each other out. I realize that there are some who are selling cigarettes and drugs to others, but I have also seen a true community of sharing and true caring for each other.
Occasionally, during Covid, when the numbers of people at the door looking for something to eat became higher, we would run out of something. Could be milk cartons, oatmeal or sandwiches. When I had to tell a person that we had run out, I would sometimes hear someone say, “you can have my milk”, or “I have enough so you can have my oatmeal”. Some of the people who offered part of their breakfast had just mentioned that they were hungry; that they had not eaten since the morning before.
A more recent incident happened a week or two ago. It was a cold morning and I was approached by a gentleman who was looking for a jacket, sweater or maybe a blanket. We don’t usually have those items, since we don’t really have the room for clothing and are trying to stick to what we do best and that is serving breakfast. We keep socks, hats and mitts but the bigger items we leave to other places. I did check in the closet to be sure nothing had been put in there that this man could have. There was nothing in there so I had to tell him no. A few minutes later I saw him speaking to a woman who was also getting herself some breakfast. I then saw her remove her vest that she was wearing, take off the warm, zip up the front sweatshirt, and hand this over to him. She then proceeded to put her vest back on and went to her table to eat. I know this woman and approached her to make sure she did not feel obligated to give him a piece of her clothing. She responded, “no, I was warm enough and have another sweatshirt at home and he needed it more than I did”
I must say that I was quite shocked to see this and hear her words. She has very little but yet still gave what she had away. I don’t know how many sweatshirts she has but I am pretty sure I have more in my closet. I am not sure that I would have done what she did, yet I have more. (I wasn’t wearing nor had with me any extra clothing, but I still question if I would have given him it). This woman knows what it is like to need something, whereas I have really not ‘needed’ anything in my life that I couldn’t go out and get.
The crisis with the homeless is not getting any better and with the future of higher interest rates, it could get worse. Many people look away or move to another side of the street when we see someone who is dirty or socially different. It is human to be afraid sometimes, but what we need to realize is that they are in need of help. We, at the Church of the Transfiguration do our part. I see people come in on Sunday morning with a box of cereal, a jar of peanut butter or jam, or cheese whiz. Quite often, by the end of service on some Sundays I need to make more than one trip to my car with what is in the baskets in the front entrance. One box or jar from a few people, becomes a trunk load that serves many.
We are the rich in the story from Luke. We have a lot to be thankful for. Do you respect the economic and social differences in this world?
What are you doing to live a ‘Jesus shaped life’?