The Great Reversal

In a rather strange way, America may now be aligning itself with The Sermon on the Mount. One might say, “in a strange way” for it took a crisis of epoch proportions to catalyze the phenomenon. We may not see it again soon. It emanates from the Beatitudes, but is not limited to those profound pronouncements.

What is this Great Alignment?  Why grows from the common theme of reversal of values. It is not an uncommon one in either religion or literature. The Galilean himself would later say, in Matthew 20:16, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." (NIV) More recently, author John Steinbeck observed, in remembering his friend Ed Ricketts, “The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success.”

And then we have the Beatitudes, perhaps the most wonderful expression of the reversal in values ever expressed in western literature. They would foretell the later advice that, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40 NIV)

Yes, one could argue that America had drifted out of harmony with the teachings of The Sermon, or the teachings of the Galilean for that matter. Leaders mocked the poor in spirit, the peacemakers, the meek, and those out of harmony with the ruling elite, right on down the line. Those who achieved both their success in life and their worldly fortune from a slap on the rear by a pediatrician received praise, envy, and even worship. Those who rose by bearing false witness were rewarded. We even bore some into the highest seats of power. Those laboring in our fields by day or fleeing from vicissitudes which they had no role in instigating were reviled, shunned, and even imprisoned. The world was, as we say, “in sixes and sevens,” or great humanitarian disorder.

That has changed, hasn’t it?

It isn’t the hedge-fund managers or “trust-fund babies” for whom those laudatory aircraft were flying in formation for yesterday, was it? No, it was those we see teeming with love and grace when we peel back the pages of The Sermon on the Mount.

I think the Galilean would be pleased. Others not so much.