Matthew 5:1-12

“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.” vss. 3-5

The passage known as “The Beatitudes” has long been the gospel text for All Saints’ Sunday because it provides the perfect description of those who walk faithfully in the way of Jesus. These descriptors are not to be considered as commandments or as the minimum standard for being included in a stained glass window. Rather, Jesus presents them as the reason why believers are considered to be the Light of the World and the Salt of the Earth.

It’s interesting that the contemporary culture considers none of the nine beatitudes as having any value whatsoever. Instead there is a focus on gathering social media followers with podcasts focusing on beauty, masculinity, celebrity, wealth, and power. Being humble, gracious, kind, and merciful are simply not  found on the path to being an influencer in our Tik Tok driven world.

But followers of Jesus know better, and today we take time to honor the real saints of our lives, the hugging, gentle, forgiving people who have walked with us on the way, and shared the joy that comes from living in the Peaceable Kingdom. These are the Light of the World and in their lives God is glorified.

Thought for the Day: What humble, gentle huggers am I remembering today?