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Based on Matthew 5.1-12
Based on Matthew 5.1-12
In addition to the person giving the talk, you will need two readers. One reads the words from Matthew’s Gospel. The other offers a kind of commentary. News pictures appropriate to each beatitude could be projected to go with the commentary on Jesus’ teaching.
In 1913 the people of Germany were remembering. One hundred years before, a coalition of nations had fought at the Battle of Leipzig against the French tyranny of Europe by Napoleon. It was the biggest battle that had ever been fought, and it came to be called the Battle of the Nations. 600,000 men fought. The slaughter was huge. It marked the beginning of the end of the French domination and to celebrate the centenary of this great victory, a huge war memorial was built in Leipzig. The story of its construction shows that it actually took 100 years to complete. It is the biggest war memorial in the world.
In 1913, as tension between the European powers built once more, Germany planned to fight France again. They remembered how wonderful it had seemed to be united against a common enemy. Similar tensions were brewing elsewhere. The nations of Europe were arming. Remembering can be dangerous.
The words of Jesus can help to guide the way we remember.
Voice 1
Jesus began to speak, and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Voice 2
A strange expression, ‘poor in spirit’. In one translation it says ‘Blessed are those who know their need of God. Yes, that’s it. We need God when we remember, or we might do the wrong sort of remembering.
Voice 1
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Voice 2
When there is war, many people will mourn. 10 million soldiers died in the First World War alone, and 7 million people who were not soldiers and were not fighting. Could those left be comforted? Only by knowing that the dead are where the evils of war cannot touch them again; only by knowing that God will not let war have the last word.
Voice 1
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Voice 2
It sounds impossible at the time, but it remains true. Tyrannical regimes come to an end. The survivors are the meek.
Voice 1
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Voice 2
Blessed are those who are not corrupted. They will be able to live with themselves, their conscience and their God.
Voice 1
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Voice 2
At the end of the Second World War, the nations tried to build peace. Old enemies, Japan, Britain, France, Germany and the United States decided to build each other up. It isn’t perfect, but the European Union gained the Nobel Peace Prize for holding war at bay for 60 years.
Voice 1
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Voice 2
Can we put aside greed, envy, anger and hatred? Jesus promises that if his way is our greatest desire, this is greater than all other things. We will know him, love him and finally see him face to face.
Voice 1
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Voice 2
The work of the peacemakers goes on. We see what it has achieved in Northern Ireland. We see what it has achieved in South Africa. We see where it is still needed: in Israel and Palestine, in Syria. Wherever there has been conflict, there is work for the peacemakers, for the children of God.
Voice 1
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Voice 2
We still hear almost every day of those who dare to tell the truth about oppression, those who speak out against injustice, those who blow the whistle on wrongdoing.
Voice 1
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Voice 2
And will we dare to join them? Will we do what is right when it is costly; the hard truth instead of the easy lie?
Voice 1
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Voice 2
How can I rejoice at that? Because we have the example of prophets who dared to speak out. We have the example of Jesus who embraced his calling, though it would lead to his death, for he knew that death could not keep him from his Father.
Preacher
The words of Jesus inspire us to put the world right. When we remember, let us recall the blessings we have received, and let us remember by blessing in our turn. Let us put away contempt and put cherishing, respect, honour, value, love in its place.
