These last few months, I have been working alongside some new “coworkers” as I navigate working from home and mothering three young children, all in the same space. I have found myself explaining more of my daily activities to my older children more than I normally would when I was at work on campus each day. These explanations are precipitated by numerous interruptions, questions and requests during the work day! 

As I was praying with these readings, and thinking about this reflection, my almost seven-year-old daughter was asking me what I was working on.  I had the readings of the day open to June 8 and a note pad nearby.  Somehow, I immediately thought of a wise and creative Jesuit friend who once suggested the idea of re-writing the Beatitudes for our own context as a prayerful exercise.  So, along with my daughter, I started thinking about the Beatitudes (from today’s Gospel from Matthew) from her context, and I attempted to give an explanation in language and terms she could understand. 

Blessed are those who don’t always insist on their own way … even when arguing a point with their three-year old brother, or even when their parent asks you to do something they don’t want to do…

Blessed are those who remember God as they go throughout the activities of their day…

Blessed are those who do the right thing, even if it’s not the easy or popular thing to do….

Blessed are those who aren’t perfect and who make mistakes….

She added:
Blessed are those who aren’t always thinking about getting more toys….

Blessed are those who take care of their baby brother before they do what they want to do….

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As I went throughout my day, this conversation with my daughter propelled me into a different but related perspective about how the Beatitudes apply to our world in this coronavirus pandemic. 

Blessed are those who sacrifice their own comfort and security for others…

Blessed are those on the front lines during this pandemic….

Blessed are those who are sad and missing their loves ones and struggling with isolation…

Blessed are those who are dying alone…

Blessed are those who are working tirelessly for a vaccine…

Blessed are those on the margins, who feel the brunt of the pandemic in deep and acute ways…

Blessed are those who are turning to God for help in balancing the upheaval of their lives…

These experiences of struggle, of hurt, of pain and of vulnerability are ways where we are invited to see God.  These are experiences where we are invited to know God’s intimate care and mercy for us.  Which invitations are we accepting?  Which invitations are we declining?

Where are the places in our lives where we have an opportunity to meet and to rely on our Loving God? 

How would you rewrite the Beatitudes in language that intimately connects to your own context these days?

May we all be encouraged as we seek to grow closer to God and as we seek to be a model of Christian love, especially in these difficult times.