The Way of the Kingdom

Matthew 5:1-2a, 7:24-29

February 28, 2016

Mark S. Bollwinkel

If one of your New Year's resolutions was to read the entire Bible, from beginning to end, and you've already given up, don't be discouraged or ashamed.  You are not alone!

We get into Genesis with great enthusiasm.  Lots of great stories.  Dramatic history.  Some of it R rated!   Parts of Exodus the same.  We are cruising along.  By now it’s almost March then comes Leviticus and Numbers and we are bored to death.  Boring!  The fervor with which we began the goal to read the Bible front-to-back fads away. It is a great goal, don't get me wrong.  There is a lot to learn with the boring parts, for sure.  But to read in detail the dimensions in cubits of the linen curtains surrounding the tabernacle between how many bronze pillars in cubits tall held up with how many silver bands (Exodus 38:1-f)...boring!

Rather, when folk want to know where to start reading the Bible I always say Matthew, the gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament.  In fact, I strongly suggest that if we are going to read any part of the Bible it should be the "Sermon on the Mount"; Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7.  If you want to know what Jesus taught read the "Sermon on the Mount" Matthew 5-7.  In fact we should memorize the "Sermon on the Mount".  This is the essential teaching and truth of Jesus.  I go back to it so often that its pages are the first to get worn out, wrinkled and smudged.  

Like Moses on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and bringing the Torah to the people of Israel, Jesus on the Mount teaches the "new law" of the Kingdom of God.  He reinterprets the Torah in radical new ways and in so doing fulfills its truth for his time and people (Matthew 5:17):

‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment...‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:21-28)

Jesus begins the "Sermon on the Mount" with the benediction, with the blessing usually reserved for the end of a sermon:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth...‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)

Remember that when Jesus comes out of the desert after his forty days and nights of temptations and trials, he preaches this message:

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:15)

"The time" he is talking about is the day that The Lord had long promised through his prophets when God's love, peace and justice would reign over the human heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34). That's what "Kingdom of God" means.  It is not just about the future, which it is.   It is also about the present.  The Kingdom of God is the spirit of God's future that we can live in the now.  The Sermon on the Mount describes what such living would look like:

"...turn the other cheek..." (Matthew 5:39)

"...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..." (Matthew 5:44)

"...don't practice your piety before others to impress them, that's empty religion..." (Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18)

"...pray like this, Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name..." (Matthew 6:9-f)

"...You cannot serve God and money...so don't worry about what you will eat or what you will wear...don't worry about tomorrow, tomorrow has enough worries of its own...but seek first for the Kingdom of God and all will be given to you..." (Matthew 6:24-34)

Our scripture this morning includes the first and last words of the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus concludes with the admonition that if we hear these words and act on them it will be like building our house upon the rock, a sure and sound foundation for living.   We are supposed to live in the Kingdom not just visit it on Sundays.  St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary, use words."

The Sermon on the Mount describes the highest ideals of our faith, in fact it calls us to a "perfection" that can never be reached in this lifetime but the measure of who God is calling us to be (Matthew 5:48).   The forgiveness offered to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus frees us from our failures, yet his teachings urge us to lives of commitment and compassion: "And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good."  (John Steinbeck)

To his disciples Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life..." (John 14:6)  Over and over again he invites them to follow his "way", the word in the original meaning "path", "road", "journey".  In fact one of the first names for the early Christians was "children" or "followers" of "The Way" (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 24:22).

What does it mean to follow Jesus' Way?  How does one do so?   Why would it matter here in the 21st century? 

The Way begins in the desert as Jesus is tempted and tested by the devil.  We learn that the Way of Jesus is to face evil head on and call it out for what it is.  

Jesus then moves to Capernaum where he calls disciples, lives in the home of Simon Peter the fisherman and begins three years of ministry.  We learn from miracle after miracle that the Way of Jesus is healing; physical, emotional, spiritual healing.

Throughout the three years of his ministry Jesus will retreat into the mountains.   Jesus loved the mountains as a place to walk, be in solitude and pray.  It was often there that he would teach about the Kingdom of God.  While praying on the Mount of Transfiguration, the spirits of Moses and Elijah appear in conversation with Jesus to the amazement of Peter, James and John (Mark 9:2-f)  On the night of his arrest and betrayal he would go off to the Mount of Olives to pray (Mark 14:26-f).    We do not know the exact place where Jesus preached the "Sermon on the Mount" but some suggest Mount Arbel, which overlooks the Sea of Galilee and a beautiful Roman Catholic basilica has been built there to mark the possibility.

Take some time this week to find a place of solitude, to be quiet and pray.  One doesn't have to fill the "spiritual airways" with pious words or urgent pleas.  Sometimes the most profound prayer is to listen...listen to your heart, listen to what God may be speaking to you.  Jesus did this in the Mountains where he would invite any who would listen on The Way.  

The Way of Jesus is Kingdom living.

The historians of the day recorded that great crowds would come out to hear Jesus' teaching, so much so that the authorities were concerned that his popularity could lead to an insurrection.  Living in and by the Kingdom of God is subversive to the established order of power and greed to be sure.  That is still true today.  Yet Jesus rejected a political solution to the human dilemma and insisted that the revolution began in the heart.

He taught with "authority".  In the original language the word for "authority" (exousia) is also translated "power" as in "spiritual force or energy".  Jesus teaching with "authority" doesn't refer to a title or credential conferred by some institutional office, such as "Rev." or "Dr." or "Ft." In fact the credentialing institutions of his day will be the ones' to reject Jesus and organize his death!  

Although a Detroit Tigers baseball fan, Kitty Madden is a dear friend.  Bonnie and I met her through a mutual acquaintance years ago.   Kitty has worked for over 15 years as a North American liaison for Casa Materna in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, a maternal and child health non-profit organization dedicated to impoverished women facing difficult pregnancies in one of the most remote areas of that Central American country.  Women from rural, mountain villages find their way to the Casa often walking miles, taking rides on buses or hitching rides on the back of trucks.   There they are offered medical assistance, healthy food, clean beds and daily classes on parenting skills and health practices such as birth control.  After the birth of their children, Casa social workers and nurses do follow up exams and classes in the villages of the women.   Casa Materna has become a model for local, rural maternal health.  The government of Nicaragua has replicated Casas all over the country.  As a result infant and maternal death rates have been significantly cut in the last 15 years.

Casa Materna is administered and staffed by Nicaraguans for Nicaraguans.   Kitty Madden has worked with them as their North American liaison since the beginning…for free.    Originally a social worker in Michigan, following a divorce, Kitty became a Maryknoll nun, a Roman Catholic Order known for its work in and with the poor.   The Maryknolls work throughout Central America.  During the civil wars in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in the 1980’s, Maryknoll sisters provided essential health and education services while advocating for peace and justice.

Although she is no longer an official member of the Order, Kitty Madden is a Kingdom person.  Using her gifts and graces she supports women and infant health programs in Central America and is a part of saving the lives of thousands of babies and improving the future for thousands of mothers.  She’d be the last person to claim any sense of spiritual superiority or special gifts that entitles her to boast.   Rather her only credential for service is her compassion and humility. She lives the Way of Jesus.

Now you don’t have to go to places like Nicaragua or work in poverty to be a Kingdom person.  WE all have gifts, talents and compassion to share.   Like pledging allegiance to the flag of our nation, those who follow the Way of Jesus pledge their allegiance to God’s Kingdom as well, God’s reign of love, peace and justice in the human heart.  We apply the Sermon on the Mount to the way we live each day.   We can do that anywhere and in many, many different ways.

Everyday people can see and hear God's spirit and promise in his words.  Most of us know truth when we see it, when we hear it.  Most of us can tell the difference between what is real and what is phony.   The people in the mountains could see and hear God in Jesus while the officials of the synagogue and Temple could not.

Can we? 

The answer to that question could be the difference between building our house on rock or on sand!

Amen.