Then [Jesus] looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh."

In Wesley's weekly gathering, we've been reflecting on the Beatitudes from Matthew's gospel... blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek. This week in the lectionary, we find Luke's version. It's not exactly the same, but it's pretty close.

Rather than focus too much on the individual verses, let's have a look at the big picture. I suspect that none of us wants to be poor, or hungry, or sad. And yet, Jesus tells us that there is blessing in that, for one day things will be reversed.

It's the reversal that catches my attention. Things will not always be as they are now. Well, okay. I think we can all go for that. Right? Of course, if we're rich, full of good food, and happy about everything, then Jesus' words ought give us pause. (Read a few verses ahead in Luke's gospel, and it will give you something to think about!) Well, okay... maybe we're not so sure about this whole reversal thing. Who wants to be told that they're blessed if things are lousy now; they'll be okay later? I'd be more interested in a quicker solution. And who wants to hear that what they have will be taken away? Not me.

It doesn't take very long before Luke's gospel doesn't sound like good news at all.

But if we go down this road, I think we're missing the point. Let's try it this way...

I'm intrigued that Jesus doesn't say, "Blessed will be the poor, for theirs will be the kingdom of God. Blessed will be you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed will be you who weep now, for you will laugh." The blessing is in the present tense, in the midst of the poverty and hunger and grief. Why?

Here's my best guess. Jesus is here; Jesus is coming. Blessed are you now, and blessed will you be. It's what I call the "already/not yet" part of our faith. Grace is with us, here and now. And yet we continue to wait for more. God is doing good things, and yet we look for the good things we long for God to do. This is part of what it means to be a person of faith.

By proclaiming that something good is beginning, Jesus changes the present, not just the future. This is part of the mystery of faith; this is what hope is all about. The kingdom of God is already here; those who are participating in that kingdom in the midst of their grief already see a glimmer of joy, though that joy is not yet complete. And those of us who come to the kingdom burdened with riches are learning to let go, though we are still learning. And so on.

The kingdom is here, and it's coming. Either way, it's good news.