Soul Food: Micah 6: 1-8; Matthew 5: 1-12
Not long after I first arrived in Macon, a friend and classmate who was local took me to this “Southern” restaurant for lunch called The Bears Den. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? As I was walking through the food line, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, pie and rolls were all heaped up on my plate for lunch. I looked at my friend and said, “What is all this?” The lady behind the counter said loudly with a big smile, “Baby, that’s SOUL FOOD!” All I could think was that it’s not my soul that’s about to bust through my clothes with all this food.
That idea of soul food stuck with me. It’s warm, comforting, fills you full, and makes you feel good. The Beatitudes we read in today’s Gospel lesson do the same. They speak of Christ’s connection and love to those who are vulnerable and hurting. These simple lines tell us not just of God the Almighty but also of God who is peace, gentleness, comforter and friend. It’s Soul Food for the Christian who works to follow in the way of Christ.
In some way we can all identify with the kinds of suffering shown in these statements. We have felt what it means to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to feel the pain and pressure of trying to live righteously and the evils of how other people may treat us. We all understand the hard work it takes to be meek, to hunger and thirst for righteousness or what is right and just, the struggle of living in mercy, finding peace, and trying to be pure of heart. If we try to live for Christ or live with any ethic at all in this world, these struggles will be familiar to us.
And to all of these struggles Jesus promises help, redemption, and the strength to overcome. Comfort, mercy, peace, the presence of God and God’s kingdom, being filled and blessed are all contained in the promises made to us when we need that heavenly soul food to nourish and strengthen us. One commentary said that some translations use the word “happy” instead of “blessed.” But there’s more to it than simply happiness at these things. These are promises of redemption that truly bless and sustain us on our journey. And they are holy wisdom for how we live and teach God’s kingdom to this world.
And we live in a world that need a little more soul food. One of the downsides of the connectedness of the world today is we see every horrible tidbit of news that comes out. We live in a world that often wrestles with all of the struggles and vulnerabilities seen in the Beatitudes. We live in a world that needs to hear the words, “Rejoice and be glad,” sung and encouraged over and over again.
It is true our world doesn’t have enough soul food. We saw Friday the video of beating and murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of police in Memphis. It was horrific even to veteran law enforcement and prosecutors who have “seen it all” as they say. I can’t imagine the suffering his family has endured. Jesus says blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Many struggle with feeling poor in spirit, or as Luke said, “Blessed are the poor.” We live in a country so blessed that no one should go hungry. No one should worry endlessly about whether they can afford their heart medicine, insulin, mental health meds, or put off a doctor or psychological visit because it’s too expensive.
No one in our country should feel abused, hated, despised, and rejected. As we age, we should not worry about the expense and quality of care that we will receive when we become older and in need of assistance or worry about being taken advantage of. We should never have to ask will my children go broke paying for my care? We should never see churches hurting and abusing children or women. We should not see people living in misery, poverty, suffering, and squalor worried endlessly about the next blow life will deal to them. We should not have parents worried that their 5thgrader will die when the school gets shot up by some madman.
It’s easy to say these are all political issues. But as Christians, we should call these things what they truly are—sin. Christ left to us a church in Acts 2 which was designed to care, comfort, support, and love one another. In many ways, it’s the exact opposite of the struggles we see today. It was a belief that in this faith we share, every person would be seen as a child of God and nothing more. And the simple truth is without saving someone from the fear of suffering, starving, or hurting, we will never be able to save their soul.
But in every dark corner and shortcoming is an opportunity for Christ to grow and God’s kingdom to flourish. As the news presents us with the worst of society, we hear these words Jesus says pushing back against all the awfulness. Blessed are the pour in spirit. Blessed are they who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right. Blessed are the merciful, the pure in heart, those who are persecuted, and those who suffer at the hands of others. In a way, it’s Jesus speaking to us in tough times saying, “I know it’s hard and you’re hurting. Come sit down at the table with me and have some fried chicken, green beans, and pecan pie. It will all be okay, I promise.”
These Beatitudes echo the famous words of Micah asking what is required of the people. They are to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. Jesus words in the Beatitudes live and work in and through us. We work together in this world to make real a faith that heals and soothes the broken places of life. In doing this together we create a community of care that mirrors the way God intended the church to love and support one another and the community around it.
During my college years in central Kentucky, I had to pass by a large Amish community. So, it was often that traveling home, I would get caught behind a horse and buggy headed to or from church. One time I saw a whole bunch of the community working on a barn. I decided to learn a bit more. Apparently, barns are very important to the traditional lifestyle of the practicing Amish. When a family needs one built, it becomes an entire community project as well as a social event called a “frolic.” Every single member of the community comes together to help build this barn, socialize, hang out with friends and family, share and trade building materials, and help this family build and complete the barn they need to provide for themselves and their family.
I imagine there’s also quite a bit of food to go around and nourish the folks who are working hard on the barn. They get the soul food to feed their stomachs and the soul food to feed their souls and their community. The Beatitudes not only tell us of God’s love and support to those who are vulnerable but call upon us to be a blessing because we have lived in these same struggles as those around us. Together, in community, we can provide love and care for one another in the way Christ envisioned with the church.
There’s an old hymn which entitled, “Make Me a Blessing.” It tells us a reminder of our work on earth, “Out in the highways and byways of life, many are weary and sad; carry the sunshine where darkness is rife, making the sorrowing glad. Make me a blessing to someone today.” In our times of struggle and sorrow, Jesus speaks those words to us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are they who mourn, blessed are the persecuted.” It is both a reminder and a call to be the blessing Jesus describes in this sermon.
To those who are hurting, mourning, and suffering, there is a hope—it is the church which offers Christ’s love, grace, and help in times of need. It is our job to remind folks that in these times, God draws near—the kingdom of heaven is theirs, and they shall see God. The same is true for us. In every moment of every day God never stops loving us and offering us care and grace.
God’s love, as seen in these Beatitudes, is given in one of the most nourishing statements of faith to a weary soul. It is a reminder that Jesus is close to the vulnerable, the brokenhearted, and those who offer the same justice, mercy, and humility with which Christ lived. When we struggle or when we see others who are feeling crushed by life’s heavy load, here is the reminder that Jesus invites us to the table and offers us the best soul food we’ve ever had.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/628121885908363