Blessed are the meek

We spent this past Sunday digging in to Jesus' words "Blessed (it is well with) are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"

In doing so we first looked at another form of teaching this principle ... found in a parable

Read this Lectio style

• 1st reading … listen for a word or phrase that stands out to you
• 2nd reading … what is it about that word or phrase that is calling to you
• 3rd reading … what is it calling you to do

Luke 18:9-14

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

After meditating on this parable and how it illustrates the beatitude, we then looked at Jesus living out the concept in John chapter 13:

 

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Blessed are the meek …

We have the impression that it's you against me, and I'm either better than you or you are better than me … we are surrounded by it, it forms our political interactions, it forms our relational interactions, it separates us and divides even the Christian community.  May we be a people who rejoice in others and celebrate them rather than find fault … may we seek opportunities to serve and not to conquer … as 

(Bow with hand on heart)   We pray to the Lord, Lead us in the way of humility

This led us into an invitation to join around the table of communion where we lit a candle of someone who God had brought to our minds that we might seek ways to serve in the coming days.