Breaking the Word

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ( Mt 5:1-12)

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has just begun his ministry. But he faced crowds of people at the beginning of his ministry itself. He had to go up higher(on the mountain)  so that he might be visible and audible. He began his ministry by preaching the people on the kingdom of God. He preached to his disciples (his followers). His maiden address.

Already in his speech he gave the orientation of his mission and activities. He was going to work with the poor, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger, the merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers and the persecuted. This list seemed to be out of the ordinary. Jesus began his mission with the people who were not in the forefront of the society. These people were his targets.

These were the ones who were about to possess the kingdom, the y were the one who were seen as comforted, satisfied, called children of God etc. There was a shift in the normal course of events. People who were of less favoured in the sight of men were considered to be the privileged people in the sight of Jesus. He came into the world to give meaning to the underprivileged, the deprived, the suffering and the sorts. Yes he came to tell them that they were the saints.

Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."  (Lk 14:12-14)

Jesus addressed the disciples, the apostles, the listeners and those who followed him. He also addressed the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the priests. He taught them, he spoke to them in parables; he answered them when they questioned him. He also advised and admonished the people who were close to him and in this passage he advised the person who invited him for dinner.

His advice is that one should not invite people for party with an idea of being repaid. The people who can repay are those who are rich or the relatives (because of the social, cultural practices) or friends. Invitation should be sent to people who cannot invite one back: poor, strangers, sick etc. This seems very strange but this communicates an essential view of Jesus. Kingdom is inclusive.

Jesus was invited for a dinner by this friend. Now with does Jesus associate himself with? Was he invited because he was a friend or someone else? Sure Jesus was invited because he was known by this man. However Jesus was always with the poor, the sick, the unwanted and the underprivileged. Jesus could not think of himself other than belonging to these people. He was one with them and he identified himself with them.