( Matthew 5:3-12 ) - [ Deutsch ]
Jesus says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God!”
Dear Confirmands, dear families, dear congregation.
Today is a great day, and you are the centre of attention. You have grown up, outgrown childhood. Each of you has already been able to discover your talents in life. You know and can do a lot. You have experienced many happy moments - with your parents, with friends. On some days you have also had worries and difficulties.
All this is part of the time span of your life so far. You are old enough to understand that you do not control everything in life. The good wishes for your life are still valid for you. We all hope and wish that good days will come for you. Above all, that you can be happy, filled with joy beyond measure.
The Bible says: blessed! Blessed are you! This is what Jesus says to you.
Is that really true? Who is really "blessed"? The rich and strong, those who have power, those who are the centre of attention, we would think. But from Jesus we hear something different. He says "Blessed are you" to those who are not doing well, who have not experienced happiness and blessedness in their lives.
Let us read from the Bible
Matthew 5:3-12 NKJV
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
So, dear congregation, Jesus says: those who are poor in the sight of God are first. Those who are despondent and in despair. Is Jesus perhaps joking? Blessed are the despairing? And Jesus continues this series. What these blessed people experience in everyday life and what Jesus promises them are in a tense contrast to each other. How can we understand this?
Dear young people - last year we talked about what faith means and what it does not mean. Believing does not mean leaving your common sense at the church door. There are some things that are hard to believe. The Bible is not a biology book, I have told you many times. It is a book that collects people's experiences with God and Jesus. People wrote these books and put the content together. It did not fall from the sky. And some statements contradict each other. That's how people's experiences with God are. They are different. Each of you has different experiences with God in your life.
All this is about something much more important: faith opens our eyes to another reality. Faith means learning to see the world through God's eyes. God says: it is not good that the rich and the powerful and those who do violence are praised and recognized. No. That which is weak in the eyes of men, I have chosen. Jesus, as the Son of God, turns the usual standards upside down.
Dear congregation, the beatitudes of Jesus put another reality into effect, the invisible reality of heaven, which surrounds us every day, but which we often no longer perceive. Jesus does not take part in the faster-beautiful-stronger-rich competition. Because it is cruel. People suffer from it, children, young people, adults too. This constant effort to perform, to keep up, to win. Jesus says: with me other values are valid, which are good for people and he invites us to participate in it, in faith.
Someone might think: that sounds nice and for the church it is ok, but in everyday life? In real life?
Dear confirmands, Jesus did not just say it, he lived what he said. He chose his disciples and they were not perfect, did not understand many things and made mistakes. Jesus renounced violence. He sought peace. He forgave those who betrayed, abandoned, mocked and killed him. He was sad and desperate when he died. This means, Jesus is on the side of those who suffer and is thus very close to them. He knows how it feels. And then he rose again on the third day. From this, dear confirmands, comes the great strength, the great hope that carries us through our lives even in the dark hours. God is stronger than death. He has suffered it. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it this way: Christ does not help by virtue of his omnipotence, but by virtue of his powerlessness, his suffering. Only the suffering God can help. We believe in a vulnerable God who is on the side of the weak.
Faith means learning to see the world through God's eyes. Blessed are you. Yes, that is how it is: we are more loved than we know. When you have discovered this source, then pure joy of life bubbles up from it. Faith means learning to see the world through God's eyes. Do not be afraid to live peace. Do not be afraid to be the weaker one. Those who believe see further than you can see with your eyes. Blessed are those who make peace, for they will be called children of God. This is an invitation to you, to all of us. And how much our world needs peacemakers. Everyone knows such people and it is great to meet them. When you are near them, you can almost smell and taste what it is like in God's kingdom. There you can guess what an angel might be: there the word "child of God" has a beautiful sound that resonates for a long time.
Dear young people, Let me tell you: Blessed are you! Even when you are sad, when all plans are thwarted. No one can take away your bliss. You are invited to see the world through God's eyes. This is what believing means. You are invited to become peacemakers, to contribute with your life to this wonderful work of God in this world. A great future is open to you. And you are not alone in this. God is with you in His blessing. Amen