The readings for the sixth Sunday after Epiphany are from Jeremiah 17:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; and Luke 6:17-26.
Jeremiah describes the contrast between the cursed and blessed person. This word for “cursed” means to be the opposite of God’s design, while this word for “blessed” means to become what God has designed you to be. Becoming what God intends begins with and depends on our connection with God’s revelation as our source of energy by which He works His design in us and through us.
In 1 Corinthians Paul bears witness to the climax of God’s design, which is evident in the redeeming work of Jesus. Our Creator has been and remains our redeemer. Christ is THE Blessed One because He always lives according to God’s design. Christ is the source of all life and the One who restores our lives to us by trading places with us and then regenerating our souls in His image. Christ, the Word of God, accomplishes this work through His Word and the means of grace. The person who holds the facts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in contempt is accursed because he cuts himself off from God’s redeeming work.
In Luke, we see Jesus blessing people by restoring their lives to God’s design for life. The word for “blessed” in the beatitudes is a different word than used in Jeremiah. Here Jesus says that the “blessed” are “happy in spite of their circumstances because of what lies ahead.” This happiness is powerful and enduring—right through the hardships described—because the source of this happiness is Jesus’ own redeeming work for us. His victory and success is proven in His resurrection from the dead. Thus, according to God’s design, we take the long view and we distinguish between grief experienced in time in the body and the consciousness of our regenerate soul that knows “this momentary light affliction is working for us” (2 Corinthians 4).