Daily Devotion for Thursday 23rd October 2025
St Matthew 5: 1 – 12
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.
Reflection
The Beatitudes are one of my favourite passages in scripture because they set my heart on fire and the Holy Spirit sparks a real passion for social justice in me every single time I go back to them. I know that many will quote the 10 Commandments as being key to how we live; plenty of public buildings in the USA have the 10 commandments engraved on them like some great legal edifice. Yet for me the Beatitudes are much more awe-inspiring, challenging, and Christ-focused simply because they are Christ-preached.
They are a declaration of truth while also being future promises and new teachings – they are an example of the in-breaking now and not yet of God’s kin-dom. They are also a call to social justice, social and community action – someone is going hungry, well do something about it! The temple system is unjust – speak out! The Beatitudes aren’t asking people to roll over and be passive. Jesus encourages people to be subversive in their “passivity”.
Meekness in Hebrew doesn’t mean what we think it means in English (and if we got that wrong in translation, how much more did we get wrong because we didn’t understand enough?) The word encompasses humility, affliction, and a recognition of one’s dependence on God. It can also be associated with the oppressed or those who are suffering.
I am pretty certain we are being asked to do more than we expect, and possibly feel comfortable with, here. That is why this is one of my favourite passages; every time I go back to it I am asked to do more as part of God’s now and not yet social justice.
Prayer
God of the Mount
when you stood and preached to us,
it wasn’t a one-time thing.
Through Scripture we are able to revisit your words
and hear again your teaching and challenge.
Spark in us a desire to really learn from your word
and live it out in the world –
to become part of the social justice,
community action
now and not yet
kin-dom building with you. Amen