Tag Archives: Gospel of Matthew

Blessed are we

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Laura James
Sermon on the Mount, 2010
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Original source: Laura James, laurajamesart.com/collections/religious/

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:7-9

The Beatitudes give me guidance as I practice following the Way of Jesus Christ.
• I must learn to be humble, let go of thinking I have all the answers, and stop lying to myself and others.
• I must learn to move from denial through the stages of grief to accept the sorrows and injustices of life.
• I must learn to endure hardship with patience and without resentment.
• I must learn to desire wholeness, oneness with God and all of Creation.
• I must learn to be compassionate and to forgive those who have hurt me.
• I must learn to embody peace, to be a unifying presence in our divided world.
• I must be willing to do God’s will, to love and respect and seek justice for all people everywhere—even when it means insults and persecution, and perhaps even being killed as Jesus was.

Today I will make the Beatitudes my blueprint for living as a follower of Jesus Christ. In a spirit of humility, I will ask the Lord to cleanse and heal me of my mental, emotional, and spiritual wounds. I will pray for the courage to let go of any fear I have of being insulted, ridiculed, or persecuted for responding to the Lord’s command to love my neighbor as myself.

United in love

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James Tissot (1836-1902)
The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper
between 1886 and 1894
Brookline Museum

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10

The mind and heart and will of God is that we all be unified in and by love, mercy, and peace.

Today I will seek the light of unity rather than the darkness of division in all of my interactions. I will follow the invitation of Jesus to follow him on the path of love, even when others challenge me.

A light for all

Filament of solar material from Sun erupting into space, and that connected with Earth’s magnetic environment

Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3

Light.
Obedience.
Justice.
Grace.
Peace.
Humility.

This is Jesus, our Lord, our teacher, our mentor, our model.

Here I am, Lord. Holy Spirit, please guide my words, actions, and behaviors that I may fully and completely embody my baptismal promises. May I follow the example of Jesus and humbly do God’s will of love today.

Baptized in peace

Zelenka, Dave. Baptism of Christ
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him. Matthew 3:13-15

Jesus is a humble servant of God who opens his heart and mind to know and follow the will of God. He is God-with-us to bring peace and justice to all people of every nation. He doesn’t self-aggrandize, boast, or seek power. He doesn’t control, bully or coerce anyone. He shows us how to be in the world by loving, forgiving, and paying attention to the needs of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable. With deep compassion, he reaches out to heal the deepest wounds we carry so that we, too, may align our minds, hearts, and wills with God’s.

Today I will listen to the quiet voice of the Lord. I will ask the Holy Spirit to open my mind and heart to receive and embody God’s healing, peace, and love. May my life reflect God’s will to love, be merciful, and live in peace with all people.

Follow the Light

El Greco (1541-1614)
Adoration of the Magi with Camels
oil on panel, ca.1568-69
Mexico City, Museo Soumayo

And behold, the star that [the magi] had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Matthew 2:9-11

In a world fragmented by war, violence, injustice, and greed, Jesus is the universal, guiding light. He shows us the way of peace grounded in compassion, forgiveness, harmony, and generosity. With Jesus to guide us, we learn to love our families more deeply, teach our children to be kind and respectful, honor all people with courtesy and acceptance, donate goods and time to food pantries and homeless shelters, visit the lonely, and support refugees, the vulnerable, the elderly, and those who are ill.

Today I will let my light of goodness and love reveal a glimpse of God-among-us to every person I encounter.

Leaving the familiar behind

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1859 – 1937
Flight into Egypt
oil on wood panel, ca.1916
National Museum of African American History and Culture

When [the magi] had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. Matthew 2:13-14

Sometimes God calls us to leave behind our home, our community, our traditions, our roots, our habits, our attachments and go to where we can be in harmony with God’s will that we live in love and peace. It is a daunting adventure to leave everything familiar behind and hope we will find a haven where we can grow and flourish in mind, body, and spirit.

Today I will trust the Lord when God calls me to move beyond the familiar into the unknown. Aware that others, too, must find the courage to face life’s challenges, I will treat all people with kindness, patience, and gentleness.

Grace and peace

Fourth Sunday of Advent

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

God is with us. God is with us. God is with us.

There is nothing to fear. We can let go of anxiety, worry, distress, shame, negativity, blame. Jesus has come to make us whole in trust, love, compassion, mercy, grace, and peace.

Today I will open my heart to let the holiness of the Spirit within show me how to love myself and my neighbor.

Love is patient

Third Sunday of Advent

You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:8

We need not look any further: the Lord is at hand in our hearts, in every person, every plant, every animal, every raindrop, every snowflake, every sunset. There is no need to be afraid. We are always in the heart of God.

Today I will be patient with myself and others as I cultivate the precious fruit of love for God and my neighbor.

In harmony

Second Sunday of Advent

Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide. Isaiah 11:3

When we welcome and accept people of all cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles without being influenced by others’ opinions, when we balance justice with mercy and are faithful to God’s command to love our neighbor, then we will bear the good fruit of harmony and fullness of peace that is God’s vision for our world.

Today I will ask God for a spirit of wisdom and understanding and a heart of kindness and compassion. May I do my part to fill my little corner of the world with the knowledge of the Lord and help heal the harm caused by fear, conflict, aggression, and division.

Light my way, Lord

First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Advent

“Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” Isaiah 2:3

The climb up the mountain to the house of the Lord demands perseverance, courage, and trust. The love, example, and presence of Jesus prepare, instruct, and sustain us as we make a commitment to walk in the paths of peace, justice, healing, forgiveness, nonviolence, and compassion.

Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to bring the healing light of compassionate love to all the dark places in my mind and heart that impede or prevent me from walking in the paths of the Lord.