The theme of our readings this week, the fourth Sunday of Epiphany where we continue to focus on key events in Jesus’ early ministry and the way that through them he shines a new light on the world, could be summarised as showing how God’s kingdom comes in the complete opposite of the circumstances we would expect. The sermon today will ‘unpack’ the first Beatitude from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:3). It’s a summary of salvation. Its a reminder God’s kingdom is already amongst us. It’s a statement about the needy state of all of humankind. And a brilliant way of interpreting the rest of the Sermon on the Mount with its many commandments (this is not yet a commandment). If you get the bulletin in advance, have a think about how this beatitude related to the Epistle today: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Difficult to think you wouldn’t find that profitable!