February 1, 2026 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 "A Blessing of Hope"

The season of Epiphany is coming to an end. We remember the wise men who followed the star to Bethlehem, and we heard the voice at Jesus’ baptism saying, “This is my beloved Son.”

Today, on the fourth Sunday of Epiphany, Jesus is revealed to us in yet another way. For readers of the Bible, mountains are special places. Just as Moses received the law on Mount Sinai, Jesus also goes up a mountain. Naturally, we begin to expect something: Will Jesus give us a new law? Will there be a new commandment? But then, Jesus’ very first words completely overturn our expectations: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” At first glance, it sounds quite beautiful, doesn’t it? “Blessed are you…” “You are happy…” Even if you are poor, Even if you are mourning, Even if you are gentle, Even if you are hungry and thirsty for righteousness…

What a beautiful message this is!

Isn’t this the kind of message we have been waiting for? A message that comforts everyone? A message we all want to hear - that somehow, you are blessed, you are okay, you are loved? Isn’t this what so many people long to hear? How beautiful this sounds! ......... But let’s pause for a moment and think more deeply. Is this really a message that applies to everyone in exactly the same way?

From verses 3 to 10, all these “blessed ones” have something in common. They are people who are currently in difficult, painful, or vulnerable situations. At first, this can feel like a universal comfort for all who suffer - or at least for everyone who is struggling.

But then verses 11–12 change everything: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” This final statement reveals the deeper reason behind all the previous blessings. The poor, the mourning, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted - these are not simply unlucky people. They are people who suffer because they are following the truth, because they are following Christ.

So Jesus is not saying, “You are blessed because your life is miserable.” Rather, Jesus is saying, “You are blessed because, even in hardship, you are living faithfully in God’s way.”

Many of you have probably heard of Pax Romana - the “Peace of Rome.” At the height of the Roman Empire, this was a peace maintained through military power and conquest. Under this peace, roads were built, laws were organized, and trade flourished. But whose peace was this? It was primarily the peace of Roman citizens and those in power. Beneath it lay the tears of conquered peoples, the suffering of enslaved people, and the cries of the oppressed.

In that world, the “wise” way to live was clear: compromise with Rome. Be pragmatic. Look out for yourself. Adapt to the system. If you did that, at least you could survive. I am not saying that this kind of “Pax” is entirely meaningless. In many ways, our modern capitalist world has been built on a similar kind of peace. But the problem arises when we treat this peace as the only reality.

When that happens, the world becomes a place quietly ruled by greed and indifference. The suffering of the weak and the margnalized becomes “the cost of doing business.” Everything looks calm on the surface, but underneath, many people are hurting and excluded. We do not even need to study history deeply to see this - we can see it in our world today.

The 20th century was often called Pax Americana. We have lived as if this kind of peace were the only possible peace. And now, that peace is being shaken. But rather than simply trying to protect it at all costs, perhaps we are being called to look beyond it. The people Jesus calls “blessed” were different. They did not compromise their conscience for comfort or safety. They chose to walk in truth, even when it was difficult. And right in the middle of that reality, Jesus declares to them: “You are blessed!” This is not just comfort for the distant future. It is a radical redefinition of what peace and blessing truly mean. Jesus invites us today to look beyond Pax and toward Shalom. In Hebrew, Shalom does not mean merely the absence of war. It means wholeness, harmony, justice, healing, and restored community. Our passage gives us a picture of this Shalom: To say to the poor, “The kingdom of heaven is yours,” challenges the logic of possession but reveals true richness. To say to those who mourn, “You will be comforted,” challenges the avoidance of pain but points toward genuine healing. To say to the meek, “You will inherit the earth,” challenges the logic of competition but reveals true victory.

All of this turns Pax upside down. It shows the power of vulnerability rather than domination, the strength of service rather than control. Jesus’ declaration - “You are blessed” - stands against the world’s logic: the logic of power, success, and self-protection. Yet this is not destruction for its own sake. It is a glimpse of a deeper, more faithful reality - the reality of God’s kingdom.

February is Black History Month. In Canada, we remember both the suffering and the contributions of Black communities. But we are called to do more than simply recall historical facts. We are invited to examine the “invisible compromises” that may still exist within us and our communities. A few years ago, a person I met in Winnipeg - now serving in the PCUSA(Presbyterian Church in (U.S.A.)) - told me something painful on the phone. While preaching, he simply said that racism for the black still exists in America. At that moment, a church member stood up, shouted, “Go back to your country!” and stormed out. He told me he was struggling deeply with whether he should continue his ministry in that church. Jesus asks us today:Which peace will you choose to live by? The comfortable peace of Pax? Or the uncomfortable truth of Shalom? Pax says: “My safety comes first.”, “Let’s be realistic.”, “Everyone else does it this way.” But Shalom says: “Everyone’s safety matters.” Shalom invites us to seek God’s will. Shalom reminds us that another way - a narrower way - is possible.

The Hope of the Paradoxical Gospel: “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you… on my account.” This may feel uncomfortable. But remember - the entire gospel is built on paradox: The cross, a symbol of failure, becomes the path of salvation. Resurrection, which begins in death, becomes the beginning of eternal life. The disciples, once fearful, become witnesses who transform the world. When we hear this paradoxicalmessage today, it is a promise:

A promise that your struggle is not in vain.

A promise that your patience has meaning.

A promise that your small acts of courage are part of God’s greater work.

We may not see complete victory in our lifetime. But every small step we take in truth - every moment we refuse to compromise - is already a sign of God’s kingdom breaking into our world. When we stand with the wounded, speak for the voiceless, and choose uncomfortable peace over convenient silence, we are participating in Jesus’ declaration: “You are blessed.”

Today, Jesus stands with us at a crossroads, waiting for us: Between the easy, comfortable road of Pax, and the difficult but truthful road of Shalom. The way of Shalom costs something. But it also carries a beautiful promise - the paradoxical blessing of God’s presence now, and the fullness of God’s kingdom to come.

May this week be a time for reflection. Where in our lives are we quietly compromising? And what is one small step we could take toward living more fully in Shalom? May the grace of God, who calls us through this paradoxical gospel, fill our lives and our community. May we not settle for Pax, but walk together as people who embody Shalom.