But the side door is like wind tunnel. Cold wind whistling over an orchestra makes the wood and metal and strings of the instruments contract, and they do so at different rates. No matter how skilled musicians may be, a collection of instruments that have drifted out of tune cannot make good music. Even Handel's Messiah would have been reduced to noise if each individual instrument produced a random pitch.

The beautiful music we heard on Christmas Eve was a group effort that required the right attitude and actions on the part of all present including those who seemed to be merely passive participants. All endeavors in this life are based on a necessary interdependency but we do not always understand this based on what we see at first glance.

The bible is a running account of all the times God's people have drifted out of tune, forgotten who the conductor is and needed to be called back into right relationship. Micah rose up to remind people of their interdependency with God and one another. In those days people walked in the way that seemed best to them. Such behavior does not an orchestra nor a faithful nation make. It was like doors being opened at random, wind whistling everywhere and a general loss of consciousness of how to find harmony.

Micah argued like a lawyer but set a tone like a first violin calling the other instruments back into tune. He reminded his people who God was and what God had done - God had given them redemption from slavery, God had caused blessings to be showered down upon them even from their enemy, life and salvation had come to them from the Lord. Micah recounted their history to them to illuminate their present. But past connection is no guarantee of current relationship. All the sacrifices in the world heaped upon an altar are meaningless if people do not actually listen to God's direction and respond in their lives.

God's complaint through Micah was not just that people were ignoring God. Micah said that the people needed to regard each other better as well. If there is no justice in a society, harmony is impossible. If compassion is whisked away by the wind of selfishness, there will be neither beauty nor peace. Without humility people become arrogant, isolated and godless because they can no longer see either the conductor or the other players in the band.

God knows the score. He is our maker and the author of our salvation, too. He called Micah and the prophets. He calls you and me. We are all his instruments. We will not become the conductor of the orchestra no matter how strenuously we may desire it. But if we listen for our cues and play the part we are assigned with compassion and humility we will find harmony and peace. Not the peace the world expects -an absence of conflict -but the peace of God which is the assurance that all will be well, come what may.

Jesus went up the mountain to teach his disciples and the rest of the crowd about being in tune with God. The music of this Messiah is very different than the melodies of advertising jingles or national anthems or the tunes we whistle in the dark to keep our fears at bay. The ways of God turn the ways of the world on their head so the beatitudes may sound odd in our ears at first.

The world would have us puff out our chest, look self-sufficient and assured, and then grab for what we think we want. We are taught to project confidence and forge ahead even if we have no idea what we are doing. We want to look successful, whether it is at our job or in our spiritual life. And yet, it is not up to us to describe what success looks like to God. It is not our job to make a plan for holiness and then decide how we've done. When we are poor in spirit, we look less to our own projections and more to God's leading. We are more likely to be in harmony if we are looking to the conductor. To be in harmony with God is to dwell in God's kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. Do not despair if you do not have a detailed plan for your own salvation. God has already taken care of that. A place has been prepared for you in the orchestra. You do not have to earn it. All we need to do is lift up our eyes and turn to Christ.

In Christ's life and words we see a template for a different way of being in the world, a way that tunes us to God's vision for life. There is no need to push and shove to get the things we think we want. We do not have to hold onto grudges or perpetuate fights out of a misplaced sense of honor. We do not have to crush an adversary when we perceive they are weak. We do not need many of the things we think we need. What we actually need are relationships that have depth and meaning and are grounded in God's love.

If we focus on God first everything else will fall into its rightful and appointed place. It may not look as we expect but it shall be as God intends. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.

Jesus is singing the same tune as Micah, Moses and the prophets: love god first and your neighbor as yourself. But Jesus is the leader of the band, the author of the music and the means of our salvation. Jesus doesn't just talk about blessings he confers them. In him the hope of the prophets and the fulfillment of the kingdom is present in the flesh.

The beatitudes call us to more than an inner and private conversion. Jesus' words are not just about our spiritual attitude. We are called to a different vision and a different life.

Those who live a life based on commitment instead of convenience will be a provocation to those who would rather not change. Those who seek change not only in themselves but in their institutions and their society will threaten those who think they have something to lose.

If we seek to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God we will be standing with Micah and the other prophets. And you know what happened to them.

Jesus said,"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Jesus is not calling us to safety, but to a new life full of depth, purpose and meaning. The beatitudes teach us a new tuning and point to a place in God's orchestra. We will not see what the next movement looks like until we take our place and the page is turned but the record shows that conductor is trustworthy. Listen to him.