Let Anyone with Ears Listen
All Saints’ Day; Matthew 5:1-11
Let those who use the name of Jesus
in the service of power and prejudice
listen to his counter-cultural wisdom:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit”:
those who are vulnerable, marginalized and mistreated,
not the arrogant, entitled and manipulative.
“Blessed are those who mourn”:
those whose loved ones have been killed by the actions of others,
not those who promote arms and cause violence, addictions and war.
“Blessed are the meek”:
those who work quietly, live simply and do no harm,
not those who trample others in their ambition.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”:
those who protest injustice and oppose abuse of power,
not those who twist the laws with money and political influence.
“Blessed are the merciful”:
those who assist others with sensitive compassion,
not those who denigrate and victimize those who are different.
“Blessed are the pure in heart”:
those who act with integrity and discernment, and explore honestly to find truth,
not those who distort truth to serve their agendas.
“Blessed are the peacemakers”:
those who work for reconciliation and restorative justice,
not those who promote conflict for their own ends, war mongers, demagogues, gang leaders and bullies.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake”:
those who stand up to be counted and are knocked down by repressive laws or inflamed public opinion,
not those who vilify honest opposition, and misuse social media to distort attitudes.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account”:
those who are publicly attacked for speaking and writing about the counter-cultural and inclusive nature of Jesus and God’s preferential option for the poor,
not those who use selected Bible verses quoted out of context to support their own prejudices and judge those who disagree.
Barbara Messner 28/10/2026
