#Blessed

#Blessed are the poor in spirit—

the ones who know more than their share of loss, bad luck, and uphill climbs.

Bless those for whom sleep is not rest,

and who often carry more than they can bear.

They know the God who promises, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

#Blessed are those who mourn—

who have felt the pull of grief’s undertow.

Bless the ones in waiting rooms and hospital rooms.

Bless those who have felt the ground beneath them give way.

They know the God who is  “Repairer of the breach.”

#Blessed are the meek—

the ones who have no weight to throw around.

Bless those with no status to claim or power to leverage.

Bless the ones who could have “had it all” but choose to serve instead.

Bless the ones who are rarely in the headlines, but always on the sidelines.

Bless the ones who feel like they can’t run fast enough, do enough, or be enough.

They point us to the God who says, “Be still and know that I Am.”

#Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—

The ones who stitch fairness into the tapestry of our common life,

one liturgy, one policy, one peaceful protest, one grant, and one meal at a time.

Bless the ones who notice empty cups and rush to fill them.

They know the God, not of half-full cups, or half-empty cups,

but of cups overflowing.

#Blessed are the merciful—

The ones whose hearts have broken wide open.

Bless those who had to walk through the valley of shadows

to learn what real light looks like.

Bless the ones who bear scars without shame,

and behold the scars of others as strength.

They know the God who leads forgotten people into promised lands.

#Blessed are the pure in heart—

who do the hard thing because it is the right and good thing.

Bless those who do small things with great love.

Bless those who listen without thinking what they’ll say next.

Bless those who love people without trying to change them.

They know the God who says, “I hold you in the palm of my hand.”

#Blessed are the peacemakers—

The ones who see the pain beneath the anger.

Bless the ones who have felt alone, and know what it is to be a companion.

Bless the ones who see broken buildings, broken systems, and broken lives

and use their two hands for Holy remodeling;

the ones who build Habitats for Humanity out of fortresses of fear.

They heed God’s call to “act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

#Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—

The ones who trade reward for  risk, and comfort for conviction.

Bless those who speak truth to power, protect the weak, and speak up for the silenced.

Bless the thistle farmers, the road-in-the-desert-makers, and the loaves- and- fish multipliers.

They know the God who moves mountains with mustard-seed faith.