Author: Pastor Martin Russell
Reading: Matthew 5:1-6
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
In this season of Lent, we follow Jesus up the mountain and listen to the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-6. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” These words steady us, and they unsettle us. Jesus blesses those who know they are empty. By nature, we prefer strength and self reliance. We trust our own wisdom and cling to control. God’s Word tells the truth about that. It exposes our pride and our deep need. We cannot rescue ourselves from sin, guilt, or fear. And yet it is right there, in that honest poverty, that the kingdom is given. We are blessed not because we have achieved humility, but because Christ comes to claim us in mercy. The kingdom is gift, not reward.
“Blessed are those who mourn.” When our defenses fall and our illusions fade, we begin to see what is broken in the world and within our own hearts. We mourn the harm we have done and the harm done to us. This sorrow does not earn comfort. It simply tells the truth. And into that truth Christ enters. At the cross he bears our sin and stands in our place. From the empty tomb he brings living hope. Our mourning does not push him away. It draws us to the One who has already carried our grief and secured our forgiveness.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” We often hunger to prove ourselves worthy. But the righteousness we need is not something we produce. It is given to us in Christ alone. Before we feel changed, we are declared righteous for his sake. From that sure promise, the Spirit begins to shape in us a new way of living, marked by mercy, humility, and trust. As we walk toward the cross this Lent, we remember that blessing is found not in strength but in surrender, not in proving ourselves but in receiving again the grace that has already claimed us.
Reflection
What are you longing for most deeply this Lent, and how might that hunger be drawing you to trust more fully in the righteousness and grace already given to you in Christ, and what is one concrete step you can take this week to live from that trust rather than from fear or self reliance?
Closing Prayer
Gracious God, you meet us in our need and call us blessed. Soften our hearts where we resist you, comfort us where we mourn, and deepen our hunger for your righteousness. Teach us to trust your grace more than our own strength. Lead us through this Lenten journey in hope, and hold us fast in your mercy. Amen.