Ways of “being”

28Apr
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 thekingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:1-10

We all know these as the Beatitudes, the famous teaching of Jesus as part of the Sermon on the Mount. As most of us have heard from the pulpit, probably more than once, the Beatitudes are not a prescription for getting into heaven. They are not commandments or tenets for how to act so that we can earn our heavenly reward at the end of our lives. As Father John says, they are “blessings,” ways of “being” in the midst of the inevitable hurts and difficulties and losses and confusion that we all experience at various times in our lives. They are Jesus’ way of telling us what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. And like Jesus’ life, these ways of being are a radical reversion from what our culture considers worthy and worthwhile; they stand counter to the conventional instincts about success and power and happiness.  Rather, each time we find ourselves in a difficult place (which we most certainly will), Jesus tells us that an attitude antithetical to the callousness and indifference of our culture brings with it the opportunity to experience the blessings that God promises us through his grace and mercy. It’s what I believe is meant by the “peace that passes all understanding”; surely what the Kingdom of Heaven is all about.


Of course, finding this way of being is not easy. We are surrounded by the horrors of war, poverty, fear, violence, division and a complete lack of truth-telling that press upon us daily. And this “path of becoming” that Jesus calls us to experience inevitably puts us at odds with the world, and sometimes with those we are close to.  For me, I know that my best chance of discovering this radical orientation of life is through community, like the loving and grace-filled community I experience at Trinity. No matter my state of mind at any given time, when I attend Sunday worship, or a small group gathering, or a fellowship event or outreach experience, and when I pray with others at church or remember them in my prayers, I know that I am being held by this community (and all the angels who came before us), and through them, I am being held by God. This is the surest way I am able draw nearer to the transformative grace promised in the Beatitudes—the living experience of the Kingdom of Heaven, the peace that passes all understanding.


My prayer is that we keep reminding each other that the Kingdom of Heaven is here among us, even now. As we embrace the blessings of the Beatitudes, may we support one another with loving kindness and generosity on our journey home to God’s loving presence.


Musical Reflection - Have Mercy On Me (feat. David Gungor) - The Porter's Gate


Merciful God, you are full of compassion, slow to anger, and rich in love. Your mercy reaches farther than I can see and deeper than I can understand. Even when I fall short, you remain faithful. Even when I wander, you call me back with kindness.

Wash over my heart with your grace. Where there is guilt, bring forgiveness. Where there is weakness, bring strength. Where there is fear, remind me that your mercy is greater than my mistakes.


Teach me to trust not in my own perfection, but in your endless compassion. Help me to extend that same mercy to others, just as you so freely give it to me. Let my life reflect the patience, love, and forgiveness that flow from you. Amen.

Compassion

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