Luke 6:17-26; 1 Corinthians 15:15-20
‘If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.’ (1 Cor 15:19)
Who is it who inspires pity - in literature, on the news, in life? The elderly man who sits in the cold because he has no money for the meter? The child who goes hungry because of another failed harvest? The mother who grieves for her son killed in a rocket strike? The young adult who has been cancelled on social media because of a stupid thing they posted as a teenager?
Pity is the feeling of sorrow and compassion when we see the suffering and misfortunes of others. It is a good and godly response – much to be preferred than looking down in haughty judgement. The reality of physical, emotional and let’s call it social suffering (being reviled by others) has evoked pity from the biblical times until now.
And yet in his letter to the young church in first-century Corinth the apostle Paul makes an extraordinary claim about where pity is most deserved. From our first reading. ‘If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.’
Most to be pitied? Why so?
Paul claims that his life in Christ only makes sense in the light of the world to come. He has already told the Corinthians about his own suffering in walking with Christ, and he will tell them more in his next letter. For him following Christ has involved real physical, emotional and social strain. He’s been hungry, he’s been anxious, he’s been written off by others.
And if this life is all there is, then none of this makes sense. If everything comes to an end with his final breath, then this way of living is folly. Paul has given up much, but for naught. If this life is all there is, he needs a different worldview, one summed up with the motto he will go onto quote later in the chapter ‘let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’
But in fact. Paul continues, ‘But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died’ (v20). The resurrection of Jesus has both shown that death is not the end and opened a way for all who hope in Christ. Paul’s hope is not simply in this life but also in the life to come.
All of which provides the right lens through which to look at our gospel reading this morning, the so-called Sermon on the Plain, the parallel to the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew’s gospel. Note here the audience for Jesus’ words. Despite there being lots of crowds around, it is to his disciples, twelve of whom he has just appointed apostles, that Jesus addresses his words. The words of blessing and of woe are for those who have already responded to the call of Jesus to follow him.
They are, in essence, an invitation by Jesus to his disciples to look at this life in the light of the next. Physical, emotional and social hardship may be part of the experience of discipleship but they will not be permanent. They may be poor, hungry, weeping and reviled, but there will be a time when they will have the kingdom, will be filled in every way, will have lasting joy and will have a great reward. That is why they can be called blessed.
The woes are for those who have it all now. Note that these woes are not to the Pharisees or the crowd but to those who are Jesus’ disciples. They are a challenging reminder that blessings in this life are not permanent. They might seem so, but there are not. So, Jesus’ words to his disciples invite them not to value earthly (and temporary) blessings too highly.
Both sets of words from Jesus and the apostle Paul offer thus a similar message: live this life in Christ in the light of the life to come.
Now there has been a distortion of this teaching that says to people in poverty that they should be happy with their lot because they will have blessings in the life to come. Such an interpretation is not supported by the scriptures through which God calls his people to care practically for the poor and the hungry, and to fight for justice which tackles poverty at its source. There is a reason why Christians are heavily involved in foodbanks and fairtrade.
The words of Jesus and Paul do not speak to society as a whole but are addressed to those who have already responded to God’s gracious call in Christ. And they carry both a challenge and an encouragement – two encouragements, in fact.
The challenge is this: in living for Christ, don’t get too bogged down in the things of this life. To use a parable Jesus told later on in Luke’s gospel, don’t just go building a bigger barn. In that parable death came unannounced, and what seemed permanent abundance was anything but. I can make plans for holidays and parties and retirement but I am confronted with the reality that the future is not known to me.
The encouragements are twofold: first, to remember that we do not simply hope in Christ for this life alone. Those who hope and trust in Christ in this life are assured of abundance and joy in the next. Yes, we may have to embrace hardships for the sake of following Christ and doing his will, but they will be naught compared to the joys to come.
This last two weeks we have two large funerals here in Durham Cathedral, for Trevor Chesterton, a much-loved verger here, and Sir Paul Nicholson, a worshipper at the Cathedral and HM Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham for 16 years until 2013. Both funerals witnessed powerfully to our resurrection hope in Christ. Sir Paul had chosen words from Revelation 21 which speak of heavenly abundance: ‘to the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.’ Living water. Abundant life. Lasting joy. Life with Christ in the world to come.
The second encouragement is this: this life starts now. You see, you can twist Paul’s words to say that we shouldn’t hope for Christ in the life at all. But we can. Paul will say in his letters that it is in the midst of trial that he has known the comforting presence and resurrection power of Christ in his heart and in his life, giving him the grace and strength to keep going, to keep serving, to keep hoping.
Holy Communion is not simply a reminder of the heavenly banquet, it is a foretaste. As we take bread and wine we receive in our hearts the living presence of Christ, the one whom we will one day see face to face. And that foretaste, and that presence, is a precious gift to keep us going.
‘If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.’
Paul was not to be pitied, and neither are we. Christ has been raised from the dead, and so we do not hope in Christ for this life alone. As we heed the warning words of Jesus, we can hear also the encouragements, to live with the sacrifices that come with following Christ, content that as we know him with us now we will one day drink living water and come before the source of life himself, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.