The Porters Gate and Pray As You Go have been accompanying people’s daily prayers together for almost a decade. The Porter’s Gate will be joining us in London to celebrate our 20th anniversary year this Saturday 13th June with a celebration concert and evening of prayer at Holy Sepulchre Church at 7pm. Tickets are still available and we would love to see you there.

We have written an album together called ‘Companion Songs’ and as we enter into prayer today, we will hear our first song, sung by Dee Wilson. It’s called ‘This Present Moment’; it is inspired by the prayer, ‘Patient Trust’, by Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ. How does it speak to you?

This present moment

This present moment

This present moment is filled with God.

This in between

This in between

This between is filled with God

This silent waiting

This silent waiting

This silent waiting is filled with God

So trust in the slow work,

Slow work,

Trust in the slow work of God

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

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.'

Today is the feast of St James Berthieu, the Jesuit martyr of Madagascar, who was killed in 1896 rather than renounce his faith. Jesus’ Beatitudes describe precisely the kind of person James became: poor in spirit, merciful, a peacemaker persecuted for righteousness’ sake. As you hear these blessings, which of them speaks most directly to where you are in your own life right now?

The Beatitudes don’t describe qualities we achieve by our own effort – they describe the character of those who allow God to work in them. They are a portrait of Jesus himself. Which of the Beatitudes feels most challenging or alien to you at this time, and why is that?

As we hear the reading again, let the Beatitudes wash over you slowly, one by one. Notice which words or phrases seem to light up for you and why.

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.'

Jesus pronounces blessings on those whom the world regards as losers, showing us where God’s heart truly lies. Take time now to speak to Jesus from your own heart – perhaps to give thanks, perhaps to ask him for one of the qualities he blesses here, or simply to sit quietly in his presence.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen