When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"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 5:1-12
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"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 5:1-12
Twenty years ago today we stood in Jamestown together. Both in the Tower church and at the Shrine, we gathered to remember the first encounters of the Church of England and the Indigenous peoples at the site of the first permanent English settlement. The original Jamestown Charter directed the settlers to bring the light of Christ to the savages suffering in darkness. And we gathered 390 years afterwards to declare a change of the way the Episcopal Church was going to engage with our peoples. Persecution, subjugation and cultural exclusion were to be things of the past. After 20 years, we have not may the progress many of us there had hoped for. Many of our leaders are now numbered among the saints.
Jesus reminds us today of how blessed we are despite what people or structures might do. We have been peacemakers, the merciful, the righteous and the persecuted. And we are reminded today to take heart, for, despite what they world does, what ill-guided leaders might do, what governments of churches do, we are still blessed and loved.
Today, I ask God to help me go on with joy and hope in my heart. May we remember the great cloud of witnesses, who have gone before us, and who now surround us, and move on despite all of the challenges and obstacles we face.
No comments:
Post a Comment