The Flavor of Righteousness

The Sermon on the Mount doesn’t change. Our perspective does, though. Ever seen a film that meant one thing to you when you were young and another when older? I sure as heck have. My best example comes from The Graduate. A twenty-something me watched it and said, “Yeah!” Now, I’m prone to watch it and think, “That poor child just ran away with an irresponsible goof who hasn’t the vaguest notion of a moral compass.” Some message lost its flavor during a span of 50 years. Life’s events change the way we see things.

We’ve been through a lot as a nation, and as a world, the last few weeks. Our perspectives on many things may change as we cope. Above all, we may yearn for, and seek, things in our world that don’t change, things that represent a stable path.

Maybe that’s what the Galilean was talking about on that Judean hillside. We’re not really sure what he meant about salt losing its flavor. It doesn’t in our world. But he was preaching in the 1st century CE. His audience knew what he meant. If he spoke to us today, he no doubt would speak with different images.

Speaking of moral compasses, he might tell us that if our hand compass ceased to point to the north, we would discard if for a new one. If we programmed our car’s GPS system to take us to Dallas, TX and it took us to Birmingham, AL, we’d probably throw it out the window somewhere along the way. If someone we had lovingly reared and nurtured ran off with a character like filmdom’s Benjamin Braddock, we’d no doubt call out the bloodhounds.

If we could agree that, at least in part, the Galilean was talking about veering off the righteous path, what path did he have in mind?

Some acquaintances would argue that we’ve strayed too far down the sinful path of hyper-tolerance. Some would argue that we’ve strayed too far in the direction of using religion as a hate-tool. What is the poor traveler to think? How can we be happy (blessed) with our moral and ethical choices regarding righteousness? What would the Galilean tell us?

Well, what did he tell us? I seem to remember that he said:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” (NIV)

Those sure as heck haven’t lost their favor after all these years.