IT IS WHAT IT IS!
Sunday February 20 2022 - Two men were traveling by airplane to a meeting. Somewhere in air the airplane's motor failed and they were forced to land. When they returned home each wrote an article for his favourite magazine. One has as his title: "Survival in the Frozen North." The other titled his: How Prayer Saved Me. The stories were about the same incident. The authors were different, and so was the audience for whom each wrote.
Matthew's version is: "The Sermon on the Mount." Matthew writes for a Jewish audience, and the events happened on a mountain. The law came from Mount Sinai. Moses views the Promised Land from Mount Pisgah. "I will lift up my eyes to the hills," says the psalmist. The temple is built on Mount Zion. Jesus goes to a mountain to meet Moses and Elijah. Jesus commissions his disciple on a mountain. So for Matthew this collection of Jesus' teachings is uttered close to the sky.
Luke writes for a down-to-earth audience. His record of the same account is on the planes/lowlands. We read, "And Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place." We call Jesus teachings: “Plain talk” for it is what it is.
Matthew hears Jesus' message with an effort to prove Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is God's messenger, sent to save people from their sins. He writes: "The Beatitudes," "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Luke, plain talk says that Jesus came to do away with all the distinctions which make some people think they are better than others.
Luke is concerned with equity, diversity inclusion and justice for the poor, lepers, Samaritans, beggars, women, foreigners, children, those who seek refuge, tax collectors and all people living on the margin. He writes a message for us to know that God loves all people including the righteous, outcast and pietistic. Luke writes: Jesus descends to the plain, where the humble people gathered. "Blessed are you who are poor." They heard Jesus and rejoiced in the mystery of the Word. This is plain talk for whoever you are, hear Jesus today and rejoice in the Spirit. Amen
