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)

Over the next 7 days, I want to invite you to explore this passage from Matthew 5 with me. My goal is to post a reflection each day that helps us enter into these sacred truths.

This passage is the beginning of what we call “The Sermon on the Mount” and the verses above are often called “The Beatitudes.” Beatitude meaning, “supreme blessedness” or “utmost happiness” coming from the Latin word for “blessing.”

I’ve been thinking a lot over the last couple of weeks (but especially the last week): what are we called to do right now? Who are we called to be? In this moment of division, cruelty, hate, hurt and heartache, how might we be people who live and love deeply in the world? In short, I’m craving connection and I also want to be part of love, hope, joy and peace in the world.

I’ve found myself tempted to tune out. Just turn off the news and pretend everything is fine. But as the recently deceased, great scholar of the Bible Walter Brueggemann wrote, “only anguish leads to life, only grieving leads to joy, and only embraced endings permit new beginnings.”¹

All of that to say, the first thing I want to do, and I hope you will do too, is to keep listening. We can’t bury our heads in the sand. The world needs your tender heart to break open, to grieve with all and anyone who is hurting. The world needs your particular type of grace in it. Only anguish leads to life. We must grieve together. I’m even OK with anger, disbelief, heartache or whatever paying attention evokes in you. But we have to keep paying attention.

I hope to be someone who isn’t just “paying attention,” which is often the code I use to validate getting stuck in my own echo chamber. I want to be someone who deeply listens. I hope to be someone who stays curious, even when that curiosity leads me to confront what is truly awful. I hope to be someone who asks questions and leans in for what is said, to really understand, connect and be present with whoever I am with.

My friend Luke Edwards has a substack all about being a “Listening Church” (great thoughts for individuals as well). I highly encourage you to take 5 minutes and read how powerful listening can be for faith formation (I might even say “transformation”), click here.

As I pay attention, listen and let my heart break with each news cycle, I find myself searching for something to nourish me. Some word from God. Something that will help me be both present to this reality, AND hope-filled in God’s ongoing presence. This led me to the beatitudes.

I can’t really say exactly why, but I think it has something to do with Jesus using the word “blessed.” I think of what 2 people have said when I think about blessings:

1. John O’Donohue: When a blessing is invoked, it changes the atmosphere. Some of the plentitude flows into our hearts from the invisible neighborhood of loving kindness.²
2. David Lose on Jesus using the word “blessed:” The Greek word used here – makarios – can be translated in a number of different ways. In addition to “blessed,” it can mean “happy,” “fortunate,” “well off,” and more. But perhaps the most satisfying definition in the context of Jesus’ teaching to his disciples is “favored by God.” When we are in these difficult circumstances, that is, we have God’s favor, God’s attention, God’s care and concern. Again, we must be clear – this does not mean that God desires such conditions for us, but rather that when we are in such straights, God is present, supporting, caring, seeing, and blessing.³

This post is already longer than I meant for it to be. Congratulations to you if you are still reading! I’ll end it by inviting you to journey with me, starting on Sunday June 15th, exploring a phrase each day. What do Jesus’ words mean for us in this moment? How do they call us to pay attention, to really listen, AND to be transformed, to draw near each other, to act for justice and peace? How might we more deeply connect AND care for the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those persecuted?

I don’t know what this will look like, exactly, but I know that this feels nourishing right now. It feels like a call to action. Like an invitation to be. It feels Holy and whole.

See you tomorrow for our first reflection.

1. Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination, 2nd ed. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001), 58. ↩︎
2. John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings (New York: Doubleday, 2008), xv.  ↩︎
3. David Lose, “Matthew 5:1‑11.” Daily Bread, February 6, 2014, Accessed June 13, 2025, https://www.davidlose.net/2014/02/matthew-5-1-11/ ↩︎