Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God …. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort [Luke 6:20b, 24, NIV]. Jesus’ extended “Sermon on the Mount,” transcribed for us by St. Matthew (see chs. 5-7) takes place—rather obviously—on a “mountainside,” with Jesus assuming the rabbinical, seated position [Matthew 5:1]. St. Luke’s extended recounting of Jesus’ sermon [Luke 6:20-49], a portion of which—Luke 6:17-26—is the Gospel reading appointed for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany [RCL, Year C], takes place after Jesus went down from the mountainside and stood in the plain [Luke 6:17, KJV]. Hence, the sermon in…
"Dispatches to the Front" -- a collection of theological meditations by Thomas A. Robinson, J.D., M.Div.