Like many, I have felt distraught over this election. It’s easy to fall into despair. At La Fuente Ministries yesterday, I got some hope.
Pastor Marcos Canales talked about how the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11; Luke 6: 2-26) are like a core value statement for Jesus and his followers. He encouraged us to reflect upon the beatitudes when we vote. After the service I spoke with a friend who just returned from a trip to Berlin and who had been studying the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer had first been sympathetic to German nationalism but did a complete 360, ultimately giving his life to challenge Hitler, after reflecting upon the beatitudes and learning from Abyssinian Baptist Church, a Black Church in Harlem. The beatitudes were his launch boat which opened his eyes to the evils of US racial segregation and which compelled him to return to Germany to oppose Nazism.
My challenge to myself, and to whoever might feel so inspired, is to prayerfully reflect upon Jesus’ beatitudes in the week leading up to the election. Who knows what the Holy Spirit might inspire in us:
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Matthew 5:3-10
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20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:20-26