4 Epiphany Yr A February 1 2026 St. Martha and Mary Episcopal Church Eagan MN

4 Epiphany Yr A February 1 2026 St. Martha and Mary Episcopal Church Eagan MN
Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 15

I am convinced the prophetic voices we hear in today’s readings can guide our walk with Jesus, and can guide us in the work of resistance in which we find ourselves as Minnesotans today. We must listen to them. In Matthew’s gospel is Jesus’ sermon on the mount. This is the opening proclamation of Jesus’ ministry to follow, and in it Jesus shows us what the kingdom of God looks like. And in Micah we hear words that many of us are most familiar with. The voice of the Lord calls us to remember, we are to remember what has happened and to remember the saving acts of the Lord. And how shall we come before the Lord? Shall we bring burnt-offerings, rivers of oil, our first-born child? And then there it is, what the Lord really needs of us is to do justice, and to love kindness and mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. 

Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. This is what God’s kingdom looks like, and this is also what it means to follow Jesus. Humbly isn’t quite an accurate translation, it should be more like walk intentionally, walk deliberately, with your God. Do justice, love kindness, and walk intentionally with God.

In Matthew we learn how to recognize blessing. We’ve heard these beatitudes so many times, haven’t we? You know, for a long time I taught children using Godly Play story telling. Godly Play is a way to tell the sacred bible stories. So, I’d tell this story about Jesus teaching his friends when the children were in first grade, and then they’d hear it again in second grade, and by third grade they’d say, we’ve heard that one before! And I’d respond with, of course you have, but what’s different about it this time? Because you see, each time we hear these stories, we are in a different place and a different time, so we hear something different from them. Friends, we are in a different place and a different time, we must hear these beatitudes differently.

Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples with this teaching. You and I are really just eavesdropping. Jesus is teaching his disciples about how to recognize blessing. This isn’t about who is blessed, it is about how to recognize who and what God has already blessed. God has already blessed the poor in spirit, and theirs is the kingdom of heaven. God has already blessed those who mourn, and they will be comforted. God has already blessed the meek, and they will inherit the earth. God has already blessed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and they will be filled. God has already blessed the merciful, and they will receive mercy. God has already blessed the pure in heart, and they will see God. God has already blessed the peacemakers, and they will be called children of God. God has already blessed those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And God has already blessed those who are reviled and persecuted.

You see, our job, as followers of Jesus is to get with the program, God is already doing great things, our job is to see that and join forces, to be a co-conspirator with God to be a blessing. And one of the things that makes it so hard is that God has already blessed those whom some would not think are blessed. Sometimes, when people talk about someone who is blessed that might be someone who is wealthy or powerful or famous or successful or beautiful or enviable. Blessing, at least according to the standards of this world, is most often of the material kind. Blessing is missing the close call, or getting something someone else doesn’t get. But that’s not what is revealed in Matthew’s story about Jesus teaching the disciples. God blesses in ways that the world rejects. 

Following Jesus is about doing justice, loving kindness, and walking intentionally with God. Following Jesus is to recognize blessing when it is staring us in the face. I think recognizing blessedness is about walking with God. I think recognizing blessedness has something to do with living in a community, a church of hospitality, a place where people of all stripes can come and find justice, and kindness and mercy. It is about standing with our neighbors when they are hungry and in need. 

I was one of the clergy who stood in the freezing cold a week ago, standing up for justice, kindness, and mercy. Now, some of you may not agree with me that what is happening in our city, in our state, and in our country is outright intimidation and occupation. You may make the argument that the federal government is justified in arresting those who have broken the law. And as far as adhering to the law of this land I would agree with you. However, that is not what we are witnessing in our cities and on our streets. We are witnessing the round up of people who don’t look like us or talk like us, and those who are standing up for their neighbors. If you listen to what these scriptures say, if you listen to what Jesus says, you can no longer abide this spectacle of cruelty and brutality.

Friends, we follow Jesus because we are convinced of God’s love for us, God’s love for all of creation. We follow Jesus because we are convinced that Love wins. We follow Jesus because we are convinced that embodied, resilient, defiant love is what God offers, and we in turn offer to our neighbors. 

We come here, to this place and we offer our own brokenness to be forgiven and healed, we are filled with bread and wine that are Jesus’ body and blood. In the mystery that is God’s love for us, we recognize blessing, we receive mercy, and we enact justice. And together we are emboldened, we can be brave and courageous as we witness to God’s amazing love for all God’s people. 

And therein is hope. We build hope in ourselves and in our community as we intentionally walk with Jesus. We build hope as we do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. We build hope as we recognize the blessedness that is all around us. Everytime you stand up for your neighbor by witnessing to the injustice. Everytime you stand up for your neighbor by donating money and food and clothing to all the places you do. Everytime you stand up for your neighbor by delivering groceries to those who cannot get out of their homes. Everytime you bring God’s light and love you conspire with God to hope. 

You are loved, go out into the world to do the work you are called to do, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. Amen. 

Blessing

May God give you grace never to sell yourself short; grace to risk something big for something good; and grace to remember the world is now too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love. And may the blessing of God, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit be upon you now and remain with you forever, Amen