The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)
(Adapted from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson)
What Jesus taught about God and about God's beloved community made people feel hopeful. His kind touch and his prayers made those who were sick or hurt or alone feel better. Pretty soon, huge crowds began to gather wherever Jesus was teaching or healing.
One day Jesus climbed a hillside in order to be seen and heard by the large crowd that had come to be with him. He got to a quiet place and sat down. Those who were following him sat down, too. They waited eagerly for what he would say and do. This is what he said that day:
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when you feel like your energy is all used up. Life with God will help you feel fully alive!
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when you're sad. God will come very close to you and comfort you.
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when you live simply, without looking for a lot of attention. With God's help, you will discover the very best things that life has to offer.
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when you struggle to live a good and honorable life. God will fill you up with goodness and leave you satisfied - like you feel after a good meal.
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when you are kind to others. You will discover how kind God is to you.
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when your heart is pure and loving. You will begin to see signs of God's presence everywhere.
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when you can show people how to get along with each other instead of fighting. You will find your place in God's family.
"You are so lucky - you are blessed! - when people give you a hard time for loving God and for doing what God wants. Their teasing will draw you even deeper into life with God.
"Not only that - count yourselves blessed every single time people put you down or leave you out or say bad things about you in order to make others doubt my teachings. That is a sign that the truth about God makes people feel uncomfortable. Remember: you are in good company. Everyone who has ever spoken God's truth has always run into trouble."
Questions to ponder:
What does being close to God feels like?
What are the best things in life?
How you show kindness to others?
Where you see signs of God's presence in the world?
What does peace feels like?