By: Erin M Diericx 

A devotion for All Saints Day on November 1, 2020.

May the mediation of my heart and the words of my heart be acceptable to the Lord.

It goes without saying this year many more are grieving than normal…around the world, in our countries, and in our communities. Not only are we grieving the usual losses from cancer, unknown causes, accidents, and [whatever “it” is] that takes those who we love away, but there is an extra unusual threat that is taking more than just lives of our loved ones but is also taking away any sense of normal…of the routine that defines time, tradition, and community.

And yet we hear Jesus words from the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are those who…” If you, like me, are struggling with the numbers, grieving the lost of a loved one, or just attempting to persevere, the word “blessed” catches you off guard and seems to echo in an empty chamber deep within you. Within the chamber, you let blessed rattle as you question where the blessings of the here and now could be. What could Jesus words mean for us today…during a pandemic that is challenging every aspect of our lives? Where are the blessings today…during a pandemic that is challenging our identity as Christians? 

Unfortunately those who have or had the coronavirus have been forced to recognized just how fragile life really is. When individuals catch the virus, they have to fight with every breath to live. If and when they recover, these individuals are faced with a new reality—being medically fragile, because the virus takes a toll on their body. It is here where the disabled community can offer its experience, because being medically fragile comes with the territory as well as looking for the blessings in desire situations.

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by acknowledging life’s difficulties and reminding us of God’s promises.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
~ Matthew 5:3 NRSV

Blessed are the poor in spirit…blessed are the ones attempting to persevere…blessed are those questioning what else they can do in order to provide for their families…blessed are the ones grabbling with their faith, for they will inherit the kingdom of heaven. 

From the start, Jesus is not promising a rosy, easy life. Jesus acknowledges the struggle to maintain the faith while living in the world, while living in the Devil’s domain. Jesus acknowledges the fight we endure on a daily bases in his holy name. Jesus acknowledges there will be times when we will feel pretty beat up, when we will feel defeated and are close losing their faith. Yet Jesus reminds us of the promise, the promise of being granted entrance into the Kingdom of God, the promise of eternal life with him. Jesus directs us to the goal, to be able to enter the heaven and live with him in his glorious kingdom.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
~ Matthew 5:4 ESV

Blessed are those who mourn…blessed are those who are grieving the lost of a loved one…blessed are those grabbling with the empty chairs at the dinner table…blessed are those who grabbling with the missing pieces in their lives, for they they will be comforted.

Jesus acknowledges the pain, the sorrow people feel when a loved one departs from this realm to be with God in his kingdom. Jesus himself felt the pain and the sorrow when his dear friend died; Jesus even wept with Mary and Martha at the tomb. The lost one feels while grieving is a deep and painful emotion, which weeping seems to accompany in order to release the powerful emotions buried deep within oneself. And yet Jesus promises those mourning will be comforted. Jesus promises to not let our anguish, our compulsions from our weeping to push him away. Jesus promises to sit with us, to hold us, and to even weep with us as he did with Mary and Martha in order to feel our pain and maybe even take a bit of it away.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
~ Matthew 5:5 NRSV

Blessed are the meek……blessed are the ones working to bring others into the light by sharing the good news…blessed are the ones resisting earthly power in order to bring the Kingdom of God and his righteous justice into the world…blessed are those looking to God to bring justice about for their sake, they will inherit the earth.

Jesus acknowledges the way in which the world views our humble nature as being powerless. Jesus acknowledges he is asking his followers to go against the views of the world in order to bring a bit of heaven to earth. Jesus acknowledges the power of the Devil makes us look weak in comparison. Jesus acknowledges the battle rages, even when we feel powerless, just as he felt powerless on the way to and on the cross. Because if we follow him on this difficult path, Jesus promises we will eventually inherit the earth. We will work the earth as God the Father intended from the beginning. Jesus promises the Kingdom of God will eventually bend into the world and the Devil will be powerless once and for all. And God’s justice will be for all.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
~ Matthew 5:6 NRSV

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…blessed are those who work tirelessly to do God’s will in the world…blessed are those looking to be righteous in God’s eyes, for they will be filled.

Jesus acknowledges our deep desire to be righteous, to uphold the laws found in the Torah in order to be clean. Jesus acknowledges our longing to be righteous in the eyes of the Lord is impossible without him dying on the cross for our sins. Therefore, Jesus promises our desire, our longing to be righteous will be fulfilled. Jesus promises God will wipe away our sins, and we will be made whole and granted entrance into heaven.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
~ Matthew 5:7 NRSV

Blessed are the merciful…blessed are those who assist others in their time of need…blessed are those who work to be an extension of God, for they will receive mercy.

Jesus acknowledges the value of being merciful. Jesus acknowledges the need for mercy in the world and its power to heal the weak and lonely and to unite individuals in community. Jesus acknowledges the work individuals have done to spread God’s mercy in the world. Therefore, Jesus promises us we will receive mercy in return. Jesus promises we will be replenish with mercy when we are feeling powerless.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
~ Matthew 5:8 NRSV

Blessed are the pure in heart…blessed are those with intent to do nothing less than God’s will…blessed are those who surrender their lives to God, for they will see God. 

Jesus acknowledges the difficulty to be pure, to intend to do nothing less than God’s will in the world. Jesus acknowledges and values our attempts make to uphold God’s will. Jesus acknowledges the effort we put into bring heaven into the world. Therefore, Jesus promises we will see God in his kingdom. Jesus promises us eternal life in heaven.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
~ Matthew 5:9 NRSV

Blessed are the peacemakers…blessed are those who values their relationships with other human beings…blessed are those who work towards reconciliation with others…blessed are those who cultivate communities through love and peace, for they will be called children of God.

Jesus acknowledges the difficult work involved in maintaining relationships and keeping peace in the world where the Devil reigns. Jesus acknowledges the difficulty in keeping the peace within the community of individual human beings who have free will. Through the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his Son and our Lord, God reconciles his relationship with us. Jesus knows first hand just how difficult it is to seek reconciliation, because he made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, so our relationship could be mended. Therefore, Jesus promises us we will be acknowledge as God’s children, adopted and grafted into God’s family for eternity.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
~ Matthew 5:10 NRSV

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…blessed are those who work to bring God’s social justice into the world…blessed are those who work tirelessly to spread righteousness in the world…blessed are those whose path to righteousness leads to their death—the ultimate sacrifice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus acknowledges the brutality within the fight for righteousness, to be right with God. Jesus went up against the Pharisees who thought of themselves as righteous in order to explain what being righteous truly meant. Jesus himself made the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross for the whole world, even though he was and is righteous having no sin, but our sins, to his own name. Therefore, Jesus promises us entrance into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus promises we will be united with God again. Jesus promises eternal life for all those who follow him to the cross.

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 5:11-12 NRSV

Blessed are those who withstand judgement and persecution from the Devil for God’s sake…blessed are those who work towards bringing heaven into the world…blessed are those working to spread the good news of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, for their reward is in heaven.

Jesus acknowledges the difficulty in renouncing the work of the devil. Jesus acknowledges the work that needs to be done, which involves sacrifice. Jesus acknowledges the brutality one faces to uphold God’s will in the world. Jesus acknowledges what is at sake when individuals follow him to the cross—life itself. Therefore, Jesus promises the greatest reward: entrance into the kingdom of heaven where we will enjoy eternal life.

The pandemic has taken its toll, and those of us left…those of us still facing the invisible threat are left to grabble with a completely new reality…a reality that we don’t quite understand. Yet it is in the unsettling shadows where individuals battle to live another day, battle addictions, battle mental health issues, battle unknown demons, that one finds God working the hardest—where God attempts to perform the impossible, his miracles, out of love for his children.

Even in the most difficult situations, when we don’t know or feel where he is, God is with us, battling [whatever “it” is] with us. God never leaves our side. And when our lives, our battles come to an end, Jesus promises us entrance into the kingdom of heaven where we will join those saints who have gone before us, where will be united with our loved ones, where we will find new life, where we will finally experience God’s pure grace, love, and peace in its entirety.

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
~ Matthew 11:28 NRSV