The Rev Alissa: Sermons

Sermon for Celebration of New Ministry for Paul Lebens-Englund & St. Andrew's: Words reveal Worlds

January 31, 2024 The Rev. Canon Alissa Newton
Sermon for Celebration of New Ministry for Paul Lebens-Englund & St. Andrew's: Words reveal Worlds
The Rev Alissa: Sermons
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The Rev Alissa: Sermons
Sermon for Celebration of New Ministry for Paul Lebens-Englund & St. Andrew's: Words reveal Worlds
Jan 31, 2024
The Rev. Canon Alissa Newton

"Words create worlds.

I think this is precisely what Jesus is about in our gospel reading tonight. We may be tempted, as humans who inhabit our particular culture to read the beatitudes and try to make them an individual prescription for who gets blessing and who doesn’t. For some of us this is the most obvious way to hear these words.

But that is not what Jesus is up to, here. Jesus is not giving a prescription for who God loves, or even a recipe for how particular people might gain God’s attention and blessing.

Jesus’ words are revealing a world. "

Preached for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Tacoma, WA
text: Matthew 5:1-12

Show Notes

"Words create worlds.

I think this is precisely what Jesus is about in our gospel reading tonight. We may be tempted, as humans who inhabit our particular culture to read the beatitudes and try to make them an individual prescription for who gets blessing and who doesn’t. For some of us this is the most obvious way to hear these words.

But that is not what Jesus is up to, here. Jesus is not giving a prescription for who God loves, or even a recipe for how particular people might gain God’s attention and blessing.

Jesus’ words are revealing a world. "

Preached for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Tacoma, WA
text: Matthew 5:1-12