Month: November 2022

Blessed are you who are depleted, who have nothing,
           for God will give you everything.

Blessed are you who are broken-hearted,
           for in through those cracks seeps God.

Blessed are you who have no power in this world,
           for God has power in you.

Blessed are you who despair of justice ever coming,
           for justice will come.

Blessed are you who offer grace,
           for you will live in grace.

Blessed are you who live by love alone,
           for you will meet God.

Blessed are you who bring about healing,
           for the name of God will shine in you.

Blessed are you when the world is against you,
           for God is for you, so deeply for you.

[see Matthew 5.1-12]

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

                            All Saints Day

God of grace,
For all the saints who have made this world a better place
I give you my praise.
For the saints who have loved me, I give you thanks.
For those who blessed me without my knowing,
who loved me from behind the curtain, I bless you.
For the ones who forgave my selfishness,
who embraced my loneliness, who understood my fear,
I praise the mystery of your grace.
For the ones who blessed others, and the ones who blessed them,
by whom my world was improved, I thank you.
For the ones who never knew they blessed me,
who shone with light they themselves didn’t see, I thank you.
And for those who tried and fell short, I give thanks.
For those whose unconquered struggles taught me,
whose courageous failures inspired me,
whose attempts at grace, despite their crudeness, achieved grace,
I thank you.
For the saints who picked my fruit and sewed my shirts,
who built my world without thanks or pay, I humbly praise.
Bless all the saints in whose blessing I live.
And now sanctify me, dear God,
that I may be a blessing to others.
Amen.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net