Blessed are you
Earlier this week, while talking with a member, the conversation inspired me to say, “You are a blessing.”
Without hesitation, she replied, “Yes I am.”
It took me back. But, then it hit me. If only we all responded with such confidence. Because, the quick, “Yes I am.” came from faith, humility, and a deep knowing why she is a blessing. Not because of what she has done. Not because she has riches or fame or power. Not because she has never suffered or struggled.
She responds, “Yes I am.” because, Jesus is a blessing and has blessed her.
I think this is the response Jesus hoped to hear from his disciples in response to the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12). Jesus, upon seeing a large crowd — all seeking his healing and peace — turns to his disciples and says, “Blessed are you.”
At Rotary, Jan. 23, we heard about a leadership event offered to high school students in our area, called a mini-RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards). One activity stood out for all the participants.
A sponsoring teacher reached out to the adults in each young person’s life and asked them to write a letter to the student. A letter telling the student what they appreciated about them. As the students started reading the letters at breakfast — each had about 12 in their packet — they moved off into their own space. Tears falling for some, as they read why people in their lives thought they are a blessing.
Their immediate response was not, “Yes, I am.”
Instead, “I didn’t know anyone thought that way about me.” … And, tears falling at the realization this actually, might be true.
Jesus chooses his 12 disciples and the first thing he tells them is, “Blessed are you.” Yes, before they can help him bless the poor and hungry, grieving, and lonely, diseased and struggling … his disciples need to believe this is true. Blessed are you. “Yes I am.”
Not because of anything they have done. Not because they know everything about God. Not because they have the best history or cleanest moral slate. Not because they are the strongest or richest or most popular or have the biggest house in town. No. They … you … are blessed, because Jesus says so.
Our American culture tends to define blessing or describe people who are blessed as ones who have accumulated material things, lived the American dream or experienced good fortune, prosperity, and personal achievement. The ones who have come through life unscathed.
Yet, scripture is clear, those who are rich, full, able, and sure of themselves are the ones who are least likely to recognize God’s blessing. Saying, “Yes, I am!” arrogantly. Believing blessing is an achievement, a trophy won, a reputation earned, a skill set honed, a life separate from hardship, loss, mistakes, scars or limitations.
Into this messed up equation, Jesus comes to you and says, “Blessed are you.” Or as Pastor David Lose describes it. “To be blessed feels like you have someone’s unconditional regard. It feels like you are not and will not be alone, like you will be accompanied wherever you go. Being blessed feels like you have the capacity to rise above present circumstances, like you are more than the sum of your parts or past experiences. Being blessed feels like you have worth -- not because of something you did or might do, but simply because of who you are”.
Worthy, because Jesus writes to you and says, “Blessed are you.”
Lori Morton is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Sandpoint. She can be reached at flcpastorlori@frontier.com.