“The Holy Paradox”
Matt. 5:1-12
Intro.: “It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times.” Charles Dickens introduces his novel A Tale of Two Cities with this
paradox. The story comes to a climax when
the hero is about to be executed during the French revolution’s Reign of Terror. In a strange twist a man, who in outward
appearance was virtually identical to the condemned person, goes to the guillotine
for the condemned man. The look-alike
becomes the hero as he sacrifices himself and dies as the substitute for
another.
As we celebrate the Feast of All Saints
we remember the real-life story of God’s Son who “being found in human form… humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross [for us].” (Phil. 2:8) In Christ,
our hero became virtually identical to us, except without sin, and took our
place under the curse of the law and the wrath of God. The result of this substitution and sacrifice
is that we share with Christ in a Holy Paradox.
The beatitudes of our Gospel reveal to us that even when we live in the
worst of times, we are in the best of times as saints of God.
I.
The Paradox Of Christ’s Life For Us.
A. Since the term saint means “holy one” there
is actually only One who has truly earned that title,
Jesus. He is the Holy One of God in whom
there is no sin. He is the very Son of
God who pleases His Heavenly Father with His every, thought, word and action.
Many teach the Beatitudes as primarily
rules for Christian living. Some even
teach that if you try hard enough you can actually live up to them and be
rewarded. Taken that way, the Beatitudes
are nothing but a law that condemns and shows us how unholy we actually are. Applied properly, however, the words of the
beatitudes become sweet Gospel for us as they describe first the life of Christ
for us and then our life in Christ.
The
Beatitudes speak first and foremost of Christ as they characterize His
paradoxical life and ministry for us and for our salvation. They speak of the Holy One who became sin and
a curse, so that we may be declared righteous and be blessed. They tell of the Almighty Creator who became
a creature, to redeem us. And they reveal
the One to whom all things belong who became poor so that we might become rich
toward God.
B. Listen again to the beatitudes as they reveal
the paradox of Christ’s life for us.
First we hear, “Blessed are the poor in
spirit.” Who is poor in spirit like
Christ, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not consider equality with
God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking on the form of a
servant, and being born in the likeness of men.” (Phl. 2:6-7)? Listen to
His self-imposed poverty of spirit as He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?” (Matt. 27:46)
Next we hear, “Blessed are those who
mourn.” Who has mourned like
Christ? He mourns not for Himself, but
for the people He loves, but who refuse to come to come to Him for
salvation. Listen to His grief as He
pleads, “O
Then we hear, “Blessed are the meek.” Who is meek like Jesus who descended from His
heavenly throne, where He reigns as King of kings to enter
After that we hear, “Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
Who has hungered and thirsted the way Christ did? There upon the cross he cried out in thirst
until His one act of righteousness, His obedient death on the cross delivered
us from the curse of Adam’s disobedience, so that all righteousness would be
fulfilled in us through faith.
In the beatitudes we hear, “Blessed are
the merciful.” Who has been merciful
like Jesus? While hanging upon the cross
being ridiculed and cursed and abused He begged for divine mercy for us,
saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk. 23:34)
Then we hear, “Blessed are the pure in
heart.” Who has been pure in heart like
our Lord? He faced all the same trials
and temptations we have, but He alone remained without sin.
And what about, “Blessed are the
peacemakers.” Who has made peace in the
way that Christ has? He told His
disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (Jn.
And finally we hear, “Blessed are those who
are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.”
Who, indeed, has been persecuted like Christ? He was perfectly righteous, yet condemned and
crucified at the hands of evil men, even our own.
Transition: Truly, the beatitudes speak of Christ, of His
sacrifice and of His blessedness. But what
a paradox! The Almighty One humbles
Himself in obedience. The One True Saint is condemned as a sinner! The Blessed One suffers! This holy paradox of Christ’s life for us is
the amazing twist through which we have now become the holy and blessed ones of
God! The Beatitudes not only
characterize the life and ministry of Jesus for us, but they also reveal…
II. The Paradox Of Our Life In Christ.
A. Unlike Christ none of us have earned the right
to be called saints or holy ones. This
title is a blessing that God has bestowed upon us on account of His Son. We are saints because the One who was without
sin, was declared a sinner and condemned, so that we, who are sinners, could be
declared holy and have eternal life. The
One who alone is worthy to be called holy calls us holy and gives us all the
blessings He has earned.
Because Jesus identified Himself with us and
turned away God’s wrath through His cross, we now seek to identify with Him and
live our lives under that cross. Under
the cross of Jesus we embrace our struggles and needs as opportunities to more
fully experience God’s grace.
B. The world has it all wrong, and as a result
has the wrong god. The human notion of
being blessed is not to be considered lowly or meek, nor to hunger and thirst, but
to be exalted in the eyes of the world and be filled. Humanity seeks to secure itself against all
the insecurities of life, and its instinct to be full and satisfied trumps
everything else.
The Beatitudes, however, teach us the holy
paradox of our life in Christ; that in our weakness we receive God’s strength
and in our humility we are glorified. They
show us that it is in our times of greatest spiritual need that we receive a
truly abundant life through the blessings Christ gives us. We know that real blessings do not come to us
by our heroic acts and strength, but through our faith in Christ. He is our hero who blesses us in the midst of
our troubles and saves, preserves and makes us holy through His Word and
Sacrament.
Because we share in Christ’s sufferings we
know that we will also share in His glory.
Under the cross of Jesus we are receiving the kingdom of heaven,
comfort, and the assurance that we will inherit the earth. In Him our hunger and thirst for
righteousness is filled and we are shown mercy.
Even if we are persecuted and hated and treated with hostility in this
world we are at peace because we have been called the children of God.
C. In today’s reading from Revelation we learn
what it means to be a saint. We are
told, that the number of saints are innumerable, and
that they come from every nation, tribe, people and language. There is no mention of their heroic acts, but
only that they are wearing robes that have been washed white in the blood of
the Lamb. The blood of Jesus has washed
away their sin in Holy Baptism, and they have been clothed with his own
holiness and righteousness. Now, these
naturally born sinners, who have put on the garments of salvation
live in the presence of Christ, who provides them with eternal blessings and
consolation. The stand strong and
victorious, because all that was against them has been defeated, their sins,
death and even the devil have been conquered.
This, dear Christians, is a picture not
only of heaven but also of you here in the Church on earth. Already the Lord has clothed you in the
garments of salvation and covered your dirty rags of sin with the robe of His
righteousness in Baptism. Right here and
now you live in the presence of Christ as He comes to you in His Word and
Sacrament. This is the holy paradox that
even now while you feel the accusation of your sin, the threat of death, and
the attacks of the devil you already have victory over them. These are the worst of times and the best of
times, because even though you may not feel like a saint yet in God’s eyes you
are; you are Holy in Christ. You are the
saints of God. Amen.