Ten Minutes for Teachers
Feb. 11, 2007
Vol. 6, Issue 2

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Worship Theme:  Blessings and Woes

Other Texts:   Jeremiah 17:5-10

 

Devotion: 

Just over the Ohio River and through the woods of Southern Indiana, you can weave your way to the St. Meinrad Archabbey – a Benedictine, monastic community founded way back in 1854.  I recently found myself on the grounds of St. Meinrad for the first time in my life as Jonathan and I spent a morning reflecting on our work.  We also found ourselves taking a brief tour of the Archabbey church, which alone was worth the trip.

Today, over lunch, someone told me something I didn’t realize about the Archabbey church.  He said a mural painted by a Belgian monk, which hovers above the pipes of the organ, appears to present a rather stern Jesus from a distance.  However, as you walk gradually closer to the mural (because of the curvature of the wall) Jesus’ stern face gradually softens to a smile.

Whether intended or not by the original artist, the person who told me this story seized onto a simple conclusion:  those far from Jesus often see him as stern, while those who draw near to him find gentleness and warmth.

I mention this story as a long introduction to our text this week:  Jesus giving blessings and woes in Luke 6:17-26. 

Reading about Jesus woe-ing people (“woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep”) seems like a doomsday, street-corner and poster-board scene – a scene I haven’t yet grown to appreciate.  But understanding Jesus in this text seems best achieved by looking first at the context and then looking at the specific words. 

The context for Jesus uttering his blessings and woes is that he is coming down off of a mountain.  On the way down, he selects twelve specific students, whom he now plans to teach and lead.  And as he and the disciples step onto flat ground, they immediately encounter a great crowd of people.

Now in this crowd would have by all sorts of folks:  the curious, the lame, the judgmental, the toxic, the eager listener, the casual observer. 

So, when he opens his mouth, he seems to be speaking to two groups:  those close to him and those far away.  Blessings will come to those who seek to be close to Jesus.  And by closeness I mean more than physical proximity.  I mean a willingness to live and act in the same manner as Jesus – to care for and seek the redemption of the neglected and oppressed.  On the other hand, those who want to stay far away from Jesus – who wish to remain in a place of judgment or remain settled and content with their own life – will eventually find they are living short-sighted.  They think Jesus is stern and unforgiving.  Yet, if they could only take a few small steps in trust, they would find Jesus ever ready to bless and smile.

Something to Chew On:

Jesus’ teaching Luke 6:17-26 is intended as a great reversal – a way of making people see the world differently.  As a young kid, you may remember “opposite day” when life was turned inside out and upside down.  In the same way, Jesus is hoping to change our perception of the world.  The poor will be rich, the hungry will be full ...

Can you recall a moment when your perception of a certain person was radically altered – either positively or negatively?  Reflecting on that experience, how can you help a young person reverse their understanding of what it means to be rich.

Prayer for the day:

“Bless us this day, Wise Teacher, and grant us fresh understanding of your word.  Plant us by streams of your living water, that we may bear the good fruit of your reign.  Amen.”  Seasons of the Spirit (ages 12-14), pg. 63.