Dear Sutton and Savannah,
I like that Jesus starts his first sermon with blessings. I think that’s a great place to start. My tendency is to begin with the problem, the conflict that needs to be resolved, the fear I’m experiencing or the task most pressing. I think if I start the day with blessing, gratitude and grace, I have a better chance of having a great day.
-Dad
Inside Out Lectionary Letters
Year A Proper 26 - (Texts, Art, Hymns)
Readings for Sunday, November 1, 2026
Revelation 7:9-17 / Psalm 34:1-10, 22 / 1 John 3:1-3 / Matthew 5:1-12
Summary of Matthew 5:1-12
This week takes us back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He centered his work around teaching, preaching and healing, and large crowds gather to hear him. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 comprise what has come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus begins the Sermon in a surprising way. Before offering instructions, challenging religious assumptions, or calling people to change their behavior, he offers a series of blessings.
Scripture as Mirror of the Soul
The first people Jesus blesses are not the strong, successful, confident, or spiritually accomplished. They are those who know their need, those who mourn, those who refuse to dominate, and those who hunger for a world made right. Jesus seems to recognize something we often forget: our struggles do not disqualify us from grace. The Kingdom of Heaven is not reserved for those who have managed to get their lives together.
I wonder what might happen if I approached my inner life with that same generosity. There are parts of me that are exhausted, grieving, frightened, uncertain, or longing for something I cannot quite name. My instinct is often to improve them, silence them, or move beyond them as quickly as possible. But perhaps these blessings invite a different response. What if I began by blessing those parts rather than judging them? What if I offered compassion to my grief, patience to my fear, and curiosity about the parts of me that feel inadequate?
The next three attribute mentioned in these blessings are mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking. They are not simply virtues to practice toward others; they can also shape the way I relate to myself. Mercy allows me to gracefully acknowledge failure. Purity of heart invites me toward greater honesty and integrity, not perfection. And peacemaking provides space for the conflicting voices within. And when the world around me is hostile or unjust, these inner practices can hold me steady. Grace can meet me precisely where life is most difficult, sometimes opening possibilities I could not have imagined.
Psalm 34:1-10, 22 - Scripture as Prayers of the Soul
Lord, may I always be grateful. When I am surprised by joy, may I think of You. When I experience awe, may I sense the sacredness of the moment. When I have all I need, may I respond with a generous spirit. May these moments abound throughout my days, reminding me of Your Kingdom, Your grace, and Your love. May I continually turn toward that which is eternal, and may the radiance of Your presence within me shine through all I do.
When trouble comes, as it inevitably does, may Your Spirit that dwells within provide a solid foundation on which to stand. Help me listen to my fears and acknowledge my wounds, but not be defined by them. May awe and reverence for the sacred become greater than the fears that seek to govern me.
May I taste Your goodness, see Your grace, draw upon Your strength, and celebrate the sacredness of the life I have been given. May the sufficiency of Your presence sustain me, even when my circumstances remain difficult and my needs remain unmet. May every part of me find its place within the transforming work of love. And may I become more fully the person I was created to be.
Amen.