Light in the Dark: Beatitudes for this Moment
All day yesterday my tears stayed just behind my eyes, and kept me right on the verge of weeping. In the morning, I watched videos of Iranian-American families being reunited at airports amidst cheers from hundreds of people. At church I was moved by the words and songs that cried out for justice and peace.
Last night, the Southern Utah Community of Christ congregation organized a spontaneous vigil in the St. George community. With only five hours notice, fifty people showed up to sing and pray and stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters. Prayers were said in English, Arabic, and Sanskrit. I heard the news and just wept.
The scripture passage from yesterday moved me. I've not heard words speak directly to our time the way the beatitudes did yesterday. I carried those words, along with Nadia Bolz-Weber's New Beatitudes, in my broken heart all day. I think scripture is at its best when we keep reading and writing to fill in the gaps. Here is what these words have meant to me this week.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the organizers. Blessed are those who day in and day out get back to work even though they are exhausted and the fight seems insurmountable. Blessed are the people of color, the Black Lives Matter activists, the mothers of sons stolen away - who are tired of constantly having to go high when they go low.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the mothers and fathers and husbands and wives and children separated in immigration offices. Blessed are those that still mourn the loss of their homeland, their loved ones, their sense of safety, and choose the long and dangerous road to a new home anyway.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the humble, the ones who see their own privilege and lay it down on behalf of others. Blessed are the lawyers, packed into airports with cardboard signs and free services.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the marchers, the water protectors, and protestors. Blessed are those who let their hunger move them to action. Keep marching, keep calling, keep building the just community you crave.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed is Judge Ann M. Donnelly, and the many others who weave together compassion and law. Blessed are the public servants and police officers who fight to protect our constitutional right to assemble and resist.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the spiritual leaders. Blessed are they who meditate and pray and fast - the ones who know that this journey toward justice needs leaders who are spiritually full and grounded in the Holy.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are the Muslims. Blessed are the Jews. Blessed are the Christians, the Hindus, the Buddhists and Sikhs and Bahai’s. Blessed are the agnostics and atheists and the spiritual-but-not-religious. We all hear the song of peace that calls us to tear down walls that divide.
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. Blessed are our Muslim brothers and sisters, who speak peace in the face torment and violence against them. Blessed are they who still come to pray, even when horrors in Quebec City would make them stay home. Blessed are they who endure the false narrative about Islam from Christians who don’t understand Jesus’ teachings. We see you. We hear you. We stand with you.