Sermon on the Mount

The Gospel lesson on Sunday looked at the opening verses of the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew. I talked about the revolutionary way Jesus was trying to teach the marginalized how to prevent becoming victims. I had two great quotes to support this idea. Several people asked for copies, so I thought I’d share one today and the other tomorrow.

In considering this passage my preaching professor Fred Craddock noted:

God’s favor is granted to those society regards as left behind: the poor in spirit, the meek, the mourners, the merciful, those hungering for justice, the purehearted, the makers of peace, those mistreated for the cause of justice. On these Jesus pronounces God’s congratulations, with these God identifies, to these comes the Good News of God’s grace. What a reversal of values and fortunes! Many of these are victims, to be sure, but the beatitudes deliver them from a victim mentality.

Just as there is a difference between being a servant and being servile, so there is a difference between being victimized and regarding oneself as a victim. Those who in the face of violence, oppression, abuse and neglect turn the other cheek, go the second mile and share possessions even with accusers are not really victims. They are in a very real and profound sense victors, set free to live by hearing Jesus extend to them the beatitude of God.

Jesus begins by acknowledging that there are those who are the victims of life’s abuse or neglect or injustice, and he promises to them special blessedness for those who are able to claim their own power, who turned the other cheek, went the second mile, and not let their enemy define them. They may have been abused, but they refused to become abusive. They may be victimized, but they refused to be anyone’s victim.

Most of us live pretty privileged lives. Our “first world problems” don’t compare to the oppression that Jesus’ listeners endured. So why do we find it so tempting to play the victim so often?

By Michael Piazza
Center for Progressive Renewal