Daily Devotional for September 21

 

September 21                                                  Matthew 5:1-12

At the time Jesus walked this earth, people believed that human
affliction, sorrow, and disease were signs of God's punishment
for sin. But Jesus had a different theology. Instead of referring
to the afflicted and sorrowful as sinners, Jesus, in the
Beatitudes, called them "blessed." By using such a word, Jesus
broke thousands of years of religious tradition that linked sin
and disease.

"Sickness and sorrow are not signs of my punishment," Jesus
might say. "I don't send disease and suffering. People attribute
characteristics to me they don't even give the devil. I've never
heard anyone claim that disease was a consequence of the
devil's wrath. I always get blamed for it. Would a mother give
her child a stone if the child asked for bread? Would a father
give his child cancer, tuberculosis, or AIDS? If only the world
would stop bearing me false witness.

     "To the poor in spirit, I send my Spirit, because I
     am love, not disease.

     "To the sorrowful, I send my comfort, because I
     am comfort, not affliction.

     "To the lowly, I give the whole earth, for only those
     who have the least can receive the most.

     "To those who hunger and thirst for a relationship
     with me, I give them my heart, my spirit, and my
     body.

     "To the merciful, I also give my blessing. Their
     mercy for others stems from my mercy to them.

     "To all peacemakers, I offer a piece of my heart.

     "And to all those who are persecuted for seeing and
     proclaiming me as a God of love, I give my
     unquenchable joy.

     "Blessed are you all, in all circumstances, but
     especially blessed are you when you call me in
     affliction, in sorrow, and in disease, for there I
     am in your midst."

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.1989