Text: Revelation 7.9–end, Matthew 5.1–12
Now take a moment to notice the person next to you – Saint or no Saint?
Before we answer that lets for a moment remember how St Paul addressed the members of the churches who he wrote to. He called them all saints! Were the members of his churches particularly holy? We know from what he goes on to say in his letters they were not. In fact these early church congregations sound very like us. I think Paul was not looking at them through his eyes, but through God’s eyes of mercy. And God looks at us not as we are, but as we can become. We are saints in process…
The Beatitudes are traditionally read at All Saints, to remind us what sort of people saints are. With an invitation for us to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before – to tread where the saints have trod. 'Blessed' means those who've received God's blessing. Being rich and famous doesn't make us happy — living life God's way does. The Beatitudes are very shocking; they say exactly the opposite of what most people are trained to believe. The upside-down kingdom. They show us a radically different way of living in the here and now, while Revelation gives us a glimpse of the reward in heaven.
So if St Paul claims we are saints – how do we live up to that? Can the Beatitudes help us?
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The poor are the people who realise that they're completely dependent on God. Even if you've got money, if you use it for the benefit of others, and have the trusting spirit that the poor have, there's a
place for you in heaven. So let's retranslate the first Beatitude as:
Happy are the people who know they need God; they will go to heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted.
No doubt God comforts the bereaved with the hope of the eternity, but you could hardly call them happy. No, this is about people who grieve over the state of the world, and the sinfulness of the people in it. So let's try:
Happy are those who worry about the state of the world; God will cheer them up.
Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth.
Jesus commends the way of meekness — not milk-and-water 'Gentle Jesus, meek and mild', but humbly serving others without demanding your own rights.
Happy are those who are humble; God will give them what he promised.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Righteousness is living the way God wants us to. Hungering after it means desperately wanting to live that way. Their reward's not to be filled with food, but with the power to live the way they wish. So:
Happy are those who want to please God; God will give them all they need.
Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy.
This is for those who bear a grudge:
Happy are those who forgive others; God will forgive them.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God.
For the Jews, the liver was the seat of the emotions, and the heart was the location of your will. It means singleness of purpose:
Happy are those who go all-out to do good; they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.
This means what it says, and down the centuries, the teaching of Jesus has rebuked those who resort to violent solutions to their problems:
Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy? Those who are persecuted? This is the very reverse of how the world sees things: but this is standing up for God’s way of living
Happy are those who are attacked for doing good; they too will go to heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
With this, most of those who were listening will have written Jesus off as a lunatic. But the way to happiness is not to avoid trouble, but standing up for your beliefs.
Happy are you, when folk make fun of you and tell lies about you because you try to live like me; be very, very happy when this happens, you will be richly rewarded in heaven.
It goes against everything that the world teaches. That is what saints tend to do – cut across other people’s expectations. But at its heart lies true contentment and happiness. And because we know this that is why we set out after the example of the saints. For therein lies your and my calling as well.