Listening to the radio this morning prompted me to think whom Jesus would have been criticised for being friends with were he to have lived in today’s Britain, given his predilection for those most hated and despised by society at large – after all, the kingdom of God is precisely for them also.

These days, probably not publicans (nobody’s more popular than the local pub landlord) not tax collectors (most people realise that it’s only due to the Inland Revenue that public spending exists) not prostitutes (celebrated by a number of popular TV serials and films) nor “sinners” (their exploits are publicly celebrated in the tabloids (not to mention arthouse films) and they’re favourably selected for reality TV shows). The one minor exception would probably be parking attendants.

The beatitudes list might have changed somewhat too, given e.g. the fact that such a large amount of social discourse (and spending) is already directed towards helping the poor.

So whom could Jesus have infuriated today’s hegemony by befriending? Currently, wealthy bankers would come near the top of the list. As would paedophiles, terrorists, racists, domestic abusers and violent chavs. Possibly politicians too, as the most scapegoated group in society.

What do you think? Any more to add to the list?

And should this influence whom we choose to befriend?

I was wondering how you would unpack the word ‘blessing’. What do you think it actually means?

Liz