Dear Lord God, Emmanuel – God with us,
Open the eyes of our heart that we may see our world as you see our world.
Open the eyes of our hearts that we may allow our hearts to be broken by that which breaks your heart.
Open the eyes of our hearts to receive your comfort and consolation.
Open the eyes of our heart to see that you are our God who entered the world in all its messy – to reveal that we are never alone.
Open the eyes of our heart – we want to see you.
During the season of Advent and Epiphany we are focusing our time on what are called the Beatitudes, as found in in Matthew 5. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus invites us into a new way of being. We are calling this whole focus: On God’s Road.
Disciples in the first century did not sit in a classroom to learn, they traveled alongside the rabbi to learn and act and grow.
When Jesus says blessed in these beatitudes it is not a momentary good wish like when someone says “bless you” when you sneeze. Jesus is saying that as we live into these beatitudes we are on the right road, with Jesus accompanying us and leading us into participating in what God is doing in the world. Even in the midst of hard times and pain there is a comfort present; ; there is transformation and there is hope of new creation.
To live these beatitudes of Christ is to swim against the current culture and to seek God’s wholeness.
To live these beatitudes is to discover the heart of God .
To embrace these beatitudes is to discover our identity as a people – together – who can find another way of being that defies the polarization around us and brings new life for ourselves and those around us.
Matthew 5
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.