Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)

Who are your favorite superheroes? Superman? Mighty Mouse? Were they on some kind of juice? Because they could fly and they were strong and they were invincible.

Mighty Mouse would say, “Here I come to save the day!” And it meant that Mighty Mouse was on his way.

The superheroes of 2019 are a bit different in their style from the superheroes of my childhood. That would be the 1950s. Oh yes.

Well, here’s a list of the top ten most popular superheroes of all time:

1. In the #10 position: Green Lantern who made his first appearance in 1940 as Alan Scott.
2. In the #9 position: The Flash who first appeared in 1940.
3. In the #8 position: Thor (my personal fav) who first appeared in 1962 and created by Marvel.
4. In the #7 position: The Hulk who appeared first in 1962 in comics and created by Marvel.
5. In the #6 position: Captain America created in 1941 by Marvel.
6. In the #5 position: Wolverine appearing in 1974 in comics.
7. In the #4 position: Superman created in 1938 (a good many years before my time) also known as Clark Kent. A total icon.
8. In the #3 position: Iron Man appeared in American comics published by Marvel Comics cover dated March 1963 and then his own title May 1968
9. In the #2 position: Spider-Man a/k/a Peter Parker first appearing in August 1962 in comics
10. In the coveted #1 position: Batman created in 1939 a/k/a Bruce Wayne.

Quite a list, wouldn’t you say? And, if you’re in search of the definition of a superhero you might find its meaning as a type of fictional character who possesses extraordinary even superhuman powers.

We’re in so much need of a superhero, don’t you think? Superheroes can stamp out violence. They can put an end to it, yes? We all know violence is needless and senseless. It calls for a Batman or a Superman or even a Mighty Mouse. We definitely need someone like that at this point in time.

Think God could come in and save the day? Yes, but He chooses or calls on superheroes to step up and save the day. Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount speaks to that. The Beatitudes are a special kind of teaching.

Take for instance Macarius of Egypt. In the Methodist Churches, Macarius is regarded highly for writing on the topic of entire sanctification. What is that exactly? It’s simply an effort Christians make toward achieving Christian perfection. Most likely not going to happen, but one can aim with the ultimate goal being in perfect union with God. We experience that when we accept the pure love of God.

I know when I think about my prayer life, I must take into consideration whether or not I believe I’m fortunate and blessed. Are you? Or do I sometimes feel poor in spirit? Do you? Why? When I’m feeling that way it’s usually a time of self-pity or even self-loathing. Those types of thoughts bring down my spirit.

Jesus recounted the Beatitudes citing eight blessings:

The opposite of poor in spirit is proud in spirit. This means how blessed you are that you are missing something and go to God for help?

How about those who mourn? Why do they mourn? Because they’ve shared a life with someone and now that someone is gone. There’s hurt after the loss. But the blessing is to know that they’ve gone to heaven.

Meek or weak? Where do you fall? Jesus says if you’re meek you inherit the earth? Meekness doesn’t sound very powerful, does it? No superhero would ever be described as meek. However, there’s a Biblical meaning or understanding of the word. It’s actually power under control. In the Christian world, meekness leans toward that power we feel under God’s control. We accept the strengths given to us by God and also recognize our limitations.

Hunger? It’s a taste for righteousness the longing for helping you to be filled or satisfied—doing the right thing at the right time.

Mercy? Showing mercy instead of revenge. If we are filled with mercy it helps us to obtain mercy.

Pure in heart? This helps us to see God and others clearly. When we are pure in heart, we look at others and see God.

Be a peacemaker? We need this so much today. When we see God’s people, we should see in ourselves a peacemaker.

The Beatitudes—all of it—is about Hope. God chooses to work through the freedom of the human will. I love that.

For me, the best part of the Beatitudes reads: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” I find that sadly Christians today are facing this type of persecution.

The good news still remains: God never gives up on us. God will save the world through superheroes.

When I think of superheroes, I first think of Jesus. I also think of Paul and Luke. But I also think of the men in my life here on this earth that mean so much to me and who I think of as superheroes.

This month of June gives us the opportunity to celebrate our fathers. My daddy falls under the category of superhero as does my husband, my two sons-in-law, and my father-in-law. It’s tough being a dad. It’s easy biologically fathering a child. But, being a dad—that’s where the superhero part comes into play.

Here’s wishing all the dads out there a Happy Superhero Father’s Day!

And that’s what I learned in Church……see ya next time!