Epiphanies Both Small and Great A ha moments that connect us to the Holy by #PrayingtheBeatitudes

Good Evening Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey! 

Happy #WisdomWednesday ! I hope everyone has had a good day! Tonight we are going to keep it simple and sacred. Our holy hashtag is #PrayingtheBeatitudes as a way for us to foster for ourselves and others the be attitudes. Let us begin by engaging the "Be Stills" and then making vigil and enter into prayer.


Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

Inhale
Exhale
Pause 

Repeat

Dear Family of God and Love tonight's Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil is dedicated to all who seek justice and equality for every human being and that we may pray that as in the words of the prophet
Micah 
"He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" and also we pray in the words of Isaiah
"He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more."

In essence we pray that we may be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) people with heart homes filled with love energy to help God by showing love and light to all.


Now let us turn towards our time of meditating upon Beatitudes. We are going to use 3 versions of the text as our meditation material (The Message, The Voice, and the NRSV and a surprise version.

Our Bible Study format for this evening comes from A Disciple's Prayer Book. We will use this to help us learn, listen, and respond using the method Gospel Based Discipleship. It is quite effective and gets down deep to the heart of the matter. 

Reflect and Respond to the Beatitudes this way.

1. What word(s), idea(s), or sentence(s) stand out for you in the Gospel of the Day?

(Reread the Gospel.)
2. What is Jesus (the Gospel) saying to you ?
(Reread the Gospel.)
3. What is Jesus (the Gospel) calling you to do?

Read First.
 Matthew 5 The Message (MSG)

You’re Blessed
5 1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble

Read Second

 Matthew 5 The Voice (VOICE)

People talk about this Jesus, this Preacher and Healer. Word spreads of His charisma and wisdom and power and love. People who are too sick to walk persuade their friends and relatives to carry them to Jesus. These cripples and demonized and ill and paralytics come to Jesus, and He heals them, and they follow Him.

5 Now when He saw the crowds, He went up on a mountain (as Moses had done before Him) and He sat down (as Jewish teachers of His day usually did). His disciples gathered around Him.

There on the mountain Jesus teaches them all. And as He is teaching, crowds gather around and overhear His teachings, listen in, and are captivated. This, the Sermon on the Mount, is the first of the five Mosaic-like sermons in Matthew.

2 And He began to teach them.

3 Jesus: Blessed are the spiritually poor—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4     Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.
5     Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.
6     Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.
7     Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.
8     Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.
9     Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.
10     Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
11 And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or despise you or tell lies about you on My account. 12 But when this happens, rejoice. Be glad. Remember that God’s prophets have been persecuted in the past. And know that in heaven, you have a great reward.

Read Third.
 Matthew 5 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 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.


Matthew 5 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)- J.B. Phillips biography and bibliography is here:
J.B. Phillips

Take time to pray and ponder.
 Now pray the J.B. Phillips version.

Jesus proclaims the new values of the kingdom
5 When Jesus saw the vast crowds he went up the hill-side and after he had sat down his disciples came to him.

2-12 Then he began his teaching by saying to them, “How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! “How happy are those who know what sorrow means for they will be given courage and comfort! “Happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to them! “Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for goodness, for they will be fully satisfied! “Happy are the merciful, for they will have mercy shown to them! “Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God! “Happy are those who make peace, for they will be sons of God! “Happy are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of goodness, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! “And what happiness will be yours when people blame you and ill-treat you and say all kinds of slanderous things against you for my sake! Be glad then, yes, be tremendously glad—for your reward in Heaven is magnificent. They persecuted the prophets before your time in exactly the same way.

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Now let us close with the Magnificat, Song of Simeon, and the Prayer of St. Francis and intercessory prayer.

The Song of Mary    Magnificat
 Luke 1:46-55

My soul doth magnify the Lord, *
    and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded *
    the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth *
    all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *
    and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him *throughout all generations.

He hath showed strength with his arm; *
    he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
    and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
    and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *
    as he promised to our forefathers,
    Abraham and his seed for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

 A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is

hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where

there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where

there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where

there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to

be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is

in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we

are born to eternal life. Amen.

God you have reminded us that we are precious, help us to convey this to all the voiceless ones.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.

God you have reminded us that we are to be a forever and eternal family and as we are this we need to lovingly respond to the need of our family members. 
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.

God you teach us many things day by day. May we remember that we are each other's keeper.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.

God you love us unconditionally through and through. May we find the way to do this and model your example. May we have courage to speak the words I love you with warm hearts and light in our eyes.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak. 

God we pray for all who are ill and seeking healing. We pray and give thanks for healing that has already taken place. May we speak up for our family members who may not know how to advocate for themselves.
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.

God we pray for ourselves and on behalf of others remembering especially_____________
May we lift up our voices with strength and loving compassion for those who cannot speak.

Jesus we come to you with our voices united in prayer for peace and lift up these our petitions and prayers in your Name. Amen.

The  Beatitudes  Matthew 5:3–12 

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (5:3)

Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. (5:4)

Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. (5:5)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. (5:6)

Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. (5:9)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (5:10

The Song of Simeon    Nunc Dimittis

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, you now have set your servant free *
    to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
    whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
    and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
  as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.


Bonus Prayers

Now let us  begin relaxing our bodies by unwinding, breathing, doing some relaxation exercises that will make you feel de-stressed.

After this let us listen to this Ravi Shankar Chants of India  or this Relaxation: Relaxing Nature Sounds and Tibetan Chakra Meditation Music for Relaxation Meditation

As we listen we begin to prepare to pray and give thanks for the days leading up to our weekend of  rest, relaxation, and renewal.

Come Holy Spirit, calm our hearts, minds, and physical selves that  we may feel your  enlivening and empowering presence. 

Gracious Spirit, we pray for peace in this troubled and broken world of ours  and in ourselves.

Gracious Spirit, as we approach God's day of Sabbath may we prepare ourselves in heart and mind to meet Jesus in the breaking of the bread, the cup of salvation, and by drinking from the well of the Water of life that never runs dry. 

Gracious Spirit, help us to give ourselves permission to take rest, do self-care, and honor God by entering into that weekly Sabbath Rest.

Gracious Spirit, give us courage to serve the least of these and become their loving and compassionate brothers and sisters.

Gracious Spirit, heal all those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit.

Gracious Spirit, we pray for the protection of those who travel .

Gracious Spirit, may we ever seek to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Gracious Spirit, encircle all those who are dying and who have died.  Enfold you loving arms around the departed and give loving comfort to those who mourn. May we lovingly enfold them as well.

Gracious Spirit, as the night has fallen and we shall soon be at rest we pray with special intention for ourselves and especially our family members who have asked us to pray for their concerns especially___________________

We add any other prayers, celebrations, remembrances, and thanksgivings here. We pray these prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.


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Good Night Dearly loved ones! Have a blessed and restful night. I love you! I give thanks to God for you. You bless me in so many ways.


With love.

Sara