This week begins a walk with the Beatitudes. My ability with the Aramaic language is, shall we say, rather limited. In fact, let’s be honest. My knowledge of the Aramaic language is borderline non-existent. This means that I am limited when it comes to reading what Jesus said as He spoke Aramaic. I am dependent on what knowledgeable translators have done.

The truth is that most of us do pick and choose the portions of the Bible that we value and seek to obey. My guess is that few of us would choose this week’s focal texts as biblical principles around which to organize life.

These verses are, in many ways, about forgiveness. The New Testament word translated as “forgive” is aphieēmi. Literally, it means “to send forth.” In other words, when I forgive someone, it is not that I do not recognize or acknowledge that I have been wronged. I do recognize and acknowledge it,

but I send it forth. I send it away.

Children are dependent on others for food and clothing. Children are dependent on teachers who can help them learn basic facts. Children are dependent on those who can protect them from hidden evils. Children are dependent. So, who does Jesus say is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Children! Dependent!

Have you ever been happily reading the Bible and suddenly—boom!—come across a text that you wish were not there? This week’s focal text is one of those. It doesn’t match up with the world in which we live. It doesn’t match up with life as we know it. It doesn’t match up with the way we have lived our own lives.

When our retirement home was about to be built, my wife and I drove out to the site to enjoy its construction. All we saw was a pile of lumber. That didn’t look like much of a house! But when we came back the next time, those lengths of wood had been put together and we could begin to see the shape of the place where we would live. Peter says that each of us believers is like a stone (1 Peter 2:4)— that doesn’t look like much of a house!—but we can be formed together to build a spiritual house, a temple. Together! 

Holy Communion is one of the sacred moments in the life of the Church. Nevertheless, some very funny and unusual things have happened at the Lord’s Table. 

Back when I was in college, I decided to go out for the track team. This was new for me; my high school did not have a track team, so I had a lot to learn! One of my new teammates invited me to his dorm room and spent a couple of hours teaching me how to get a good burst at the start line. Coach Wilson pulled me aside at practice and showed me how to pace myself in a longer race. 

When Matthew tells the Gospel story, he ends by telling how the story is to be passed on (Matthew 28:16-20). Guess what! It’s in our hands. Jesus is still with those of us who follow Him, but His instructions to the disciples (and to us) is to make disciples, baptize, teach, and obey. 

Have you ever been reading the Bible—shall we say, more or less routinely—when suddenly something jumps out at you? That happened to me last Sunday at our Sunday School class. We were discussing Revelation 22:1-5 when my eye fell on verse 2. It told of God’s healing (loving, caring for) “the nations.” Nations! Plural! It was a powerful reminder that God’s saving power is intended for all people.