Of The Essence
Matthew 5:1-12
5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
5:2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Carol Boston Weatherford - The Beatitudes: From Slavery To Civil Rights
Carol Boston Weatherford - The Beatitudes: From Slavery To Civil Rights
Blessed are people who self-harm –
the hopeless, the traumatized, the disassociated, and the depressed –
you belong.
Blessed are those with scars on their bodies, and on their hearts –
whose souls have been marked by the brutality of life.
For they know the meaning of love –
and of healing.
The creator of the universe sides with people
who keep their heads down –
too weary to speak up, they have absorbed shame,
microaggressions, and discrimination.
She sides with those who are in the closet –
hiding to stay safe.
You are enough.
God is on the side of the wrongly convicted and punitively punished.
The Divine marches with protestors of injustice,
they speak through community educators and activists,
and inspire prophets of futures not their own.
The Merciful are the lucky ones –
for in their weakness, they are strong.
They’re blessed by going to coffee with bigots,
naming truth to the ignorant,
and returning insults with calm boundaries.
By preserving their dignity in the midst of mockers’ contempt,
they’ve struck the mystical jackpot.
Blessed are trans kids, whose pure hearts long to express themselves,
and to be cherished, and to be protected.
Blessed are those who vulnerably open their hearts to the world,
for it is only they who will taste JOY.
Blessed are peacemakers, who shapeshift to belong.
Blessed are those who don’t have identities or opinions,
but instead, hide in the reflection of others’ projections.
You are God’s children.
Blessed are the persecuted –
those who lose their careers for being transgender.
Blessed are the vilified, the misunderstood, and demeaned.
Blessed are the persecuted, who risk their lives by driving to the store,
who are shot dead by representatives of the state,
who are raped and not believed,
whose basic rights are legislated out of existence.
God is on your side.
This is not the end.
- Esther Loewen
