{"id":10830,"date":"2026-01-28T08:40:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T14:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=10830"},"modified":"2026-01-27T15:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T21:40:00","slug":"febrauary-1-2026-blessed-by-presence-not-circumstance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/febrauary-1-2026-blessed-by-presence-not-circumstance\/","title":{"rendered":"Febrauary 1, 2026 &#8211; Blessed by Presence, Not Circumstance"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Prepare<\/h4>\n<p>This week, the Revised Common Lectionary gives us four meaty texts. They relate to one another, but it is also important to think about them individually.<\/p>\n<p>Micah 6:8 might be the best-known verse of the whole book, but it is important to read it within its literary context. Chapter 6 reads like a court transcript. God has dragged the people of Israel (ancient, not the modern-day state) to court. Creation acts as judge and jury. God starts to list all the ways that God has saved and delivered. The people then ask \u201cHow shall we say thank you? With sacrifices? Huge sacrifices? Over the top sacrifices?\u201d And a voice responds, God has told you: \u201cto do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God\u201d (Micah 6:8, NRSVue).<\/p>\n<p>Psalm 15 echoes the high standards of living that God yearns to see from God\u2019s people in Micah 6. Notice the focus on how people interact with others\u2014their friends, their neighbors, the innocent.<\/p>\n<p>The assigned passage from First Corinthians this week starts with the same verse that last week\u2019s passage ended with. The cross is foolish; it does not make sense when selfish power-hungry human logic is applied. Through Christ, God provides to God\u2019s people wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.<\/p>\n<p>Like the other texts assigned for today, Matthew 5:1-12 shows us God\u2019s character\u2014one who saves, delivers, and defies human logic. The Beatitudes (as they are usually called) are not meant to encourage Christ\u2019s followers to seek out\/cause suffering for ourselves in order to get closer to God, but to see where and with whom God promises to be and invite us to come alongside them as well.<\/p>\n<h4>Opening Exercise<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Option 1:<\/strong> When you think of someone being \u201cblessed\u201d, who comes to mind? What do they look like? Who do you not think of as being blessed?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Option 2:<\/strong> Look through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/17fq786Cee\/\">Salt &amp; Gold Collection\u2019s Foot Washing Series inspired by recent events in Minnesota:<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>What are your reactions?<\/li>\n<li>Which image surprised you the most?<\/li>\n<li>Which image will stick with you this week?<\/li>\n<li>What images are missing?<\/li>\n<li>You can find earlier iterations of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saltandgold.com.au\/collections\/the-footwashing-series\">Foot Washing Series here.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Text Read Aloud<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=351593437\">Micah 6:1-8<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=257369135\">Matthew 5:1-12<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Blessed by Presence, Not Circumstance<\/h4>\n<p>If you search #blessed on social media, you will most likely see a seemingly never-ending stream of personal achievements (especially of the athletic variety), the acquisition of material possessions, and the enjoyment of exotic vacation spots.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10833\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10833\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10833\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n-250x333.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n-263x350.jpg 263w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/01\/621855762_18082870304222164_6599388430383236078_n.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-10833\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">artwork by Salt &amp; Gold Collection<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It seems like today\u2019s popular definition of \u201cblessed\u201d is almost the exact opposite of what Jesus had in mind at the Mount of the Beatitudes. A state of blessedness is not something that is earned or even something to be aspired to. It is a statement of promise\u2014God promises to be with all God\u2019s people no matter how bad things get.<\/p>\n<p>Our God is about turning the world upside down\u2014which is why Jesus speaks what seems like foolishness when he calls those in so many terrible situations \u201cblessed.\u201d The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted are not blessed BY their situations. Rather, they are called blessed because God remains with them amid their less-than-ideal situations, promising that things will ultimately be different. This presence and solidarity with those whom society would otherwise cast off is the heart of the good news\u2014no one is out of God\u2019s purview. All are invited into the abundant life of God\u2019s kin-dom.<\/p>\n<p>Too often, though, we lose sight of God\u2019s plan for creation and make up our own. We lose sight of the communal for the individual, turning inward and gazing at our navels. It is this manifestation of sin that leads to the list of Solemn Reproaches that we confess as a community on Good Friday in the style of Micah 6.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, as we confess our complacency with injustice and the ways we work against God\u2019s plan and God\u2019s people, let us also hear the good news that God continues God\u2019s saving action despite us. We do not have to do anything or be good enough to receive \u201crighteousness and redemption and sanctification\u201d from our Lord. Instead, when we are given God\u2019s free gift of grace, we are transformed to \u201cdo justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.\u201d When our egos and selfishness are kept in check, we get to experience God\u2019s kin-dom and true plan for creation\u2014where there is more than enough to go around and abundant life for all.<\/p>\n<h4>Reflection Questions<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>According to Micah 6:1-8 and Matthew 5:1-12, what do the actions of God tell us about the character of God?<\/li>\n<li>According to Micah 6:1-8 and Psalm 15, how does God want God\u2019s people to live?<\/li>\n<li>Why do you think that Jesus mentioned the groups\/kinds of people that he did in the Beatitudes?<\/li>\n<li>If Jesus were preaching the Sermon on the Mount today, what groups\/kinds of people would he name in the Beatitudes today?<\/li>\n<li>How have you or could you actively work to bless the groups\/kinds of people that Jesus included in the biblical Beatitudes or that are on the modern-day list y\u2019all came up with?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Closing Activity<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Work individually or in small groups to design a visual representation of Micah 6:8 or the Beatitudes\u2014think t-shirt, temporary tattoo, mural, or banner for your worship space. Give each person\/group a chance to share about their design as they desire.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Final Blessing\u2014by Sr. Ruth Marlene Fox, OSB<\/h4>\n<p>May God bless you with a restless discomfort<br \/>\nabout easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,<br \/>\nso that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.<\/p>\n<p>May God bless you with holy anger<br \/>\nat injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,<br \/>\nso that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom,<br \/>\nand peace among all people.<\/p>\n<p>May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer<br \/>\nfrom pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish,<br \/>\nso that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.<\/p>\n<p>May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that<br \/>\nyou really CAN make a difference in this world,<br \/>\nso that you are able, with God&#8217;s grace,<br \/>\nto do what others claim cannot be done.<\/p>\n<p>And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator,<br \/>\nJesus Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Saviour,<br \/>\nand the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide, be with you<br \/>\nand remain with you, this day and forevermore. Amen.*<\/p>\n<h4>Bio of Author<\/h4>\n<p>Leslie Weber is a pastor, spouse, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and ally. She serves at Grace Lutheran Church (Chesapeake, VA) and Holy Communion Lutheran Church (Portsmouth, VA). She was born in California, but has lived most of her life on the East Coast, where she has lived in three of the four U.S. Commonwealths (MA, PA, and VA).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10727\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt-300x162.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt-1024x551.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt-1536x827.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt-250x135.png 250w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt-650x350.png 650w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/09\/FaithLens_logoalt.png 1950w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>*\u201cMay God bless you with a restless discomfort\u2026\u201d A four-fold Benedictine blessing by Sr. Ruth Marlene Fox, OSB, 1985, as reprinted on WorldPrayers.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prepare This week, the Revised Common Lectionary gives us four meaty texts. They relate to one another, but it is also important to think about them individually. Micah 6:8 might be the best-known verse of the whole book, but it is important to read it within its literary context. Chapter 6 reads like a court [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":310,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1400],"tags":[13659,5951,339,16725,16726,16727],"class_list":["post-10830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post","tag-beatitudes","tag-blessed","tag-justice","tag-matthew-51-12","tag-micah-61-8","tag-minnesota"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Febrauary 1, 2026 - Blessed by Presence, Not Circumstance - Faith Lens<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What does it really mean to be \u201cblessed\u201d? 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