When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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."
Matthew 5:1-12
There are nine blessings in today's passage....nine invitations to accept the fullness of God's abundance which flows into the caverns of human existence.
I notice a wavelike rhythm in my soul as I slowly read the words aloud.
For every condition that drains me of self protection...for every moment that the illusion of MY ability to sustain my SELF is shattered...there is a divine blessing....a gift of wholeness. So I pray:
May I be poor...so that I may receive the abundant riches of the kingdom of heaven...
I pray to be honest in the mourning regions of my soul....so that I may be comforted.
May I be meek....and notice the enduring strengths bestowed in weakness.
I pray that my hunger and thirst for righteousness increases...so my soul is saturated with YOU and all that YOU provide.
May I learn more ways to be merciful...so that I may appreciate more fully the infinite moments YOU are merciful to me.
Purify my heart....protect me from the static and distractions which invade my mind so that I may see you more clearly...and see all that is before me as YOU do.
Peace...may I breathe, speak, and act as one who encourages peace wherever I wander...
And if I am rejected...or challenged...or discounted...or reviled...let it be because I am following you, Holy One...for it is sweeter and safer to follow you through persecution than to cling to my own life.
I yearn for and pray for the fullness of your many blessings...I rejoice in the ebb and flow of your Holy Spirit, leading me, dancing with my soul....amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment