Fr. Bob - Stations of the Beatitudes
In Ephesians 4 today’s second reading Paul tells his listeners to let go of all bitterness and anger and instead seek the way of kindness and compassion forgiving one another as God as forgiven us in Christ. Do this and you will be blessed. The way of kindness, compassion and forgiveness are themes Jesus often preached on. Like that day on a hillside when he began to teach saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for yours is the kingdom of God.”
We’re all familiar with the beatitudes yet because they’re paradoxical they’re not always easy to understand. They challenge us to trust that the real victories in life come not so much by being strong but by being vulnerable enough to let God work through our weakness. And as the Beatitudes teach us it’s in our weakness that we learn dependence on God and not just on ourselves.
The theme of the prayers garden is the beatitudes. On each of eight stone paver is inscribed one of the beatitudes. In our Catholic tradition we have the stations of the cross as a way to mediate on the passion and death of our Lord. Our prayer features the Stations of the Beatitudes as a way to meditate on the Beatitudes, Jesus’ eight prescriptions for peace in our world. That’s why we call it the Via de Paz or way of peace parish prayer garden.
So, how do you pray the Stations of the Beatitudes? Just like there are prayer guides for praying the Stions of the Cross on this laminated card you have a prayer guide for praying the Stations of the Beatitudes.
To give you a feel for how to use this aminated prayer guide take for example the first Beatitude. It reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.” Then there’s this reflection. “In this beatitude Jesus reminds us that the path to happiness is found in humility, compassion, and forgiveness. The poor in spirit are those who humbly recognize their need for God and have learned to rely on his grace.
And then there’s a question for reflection:” If the poor in spirit are those who have learned to live humbly without need for riches, fame, and power where is it in my life that I’m inclined to lack this kind of humility?” And then it concludes with a prayer. “Lord, give me the humility to live content without need for riches , fame, and power.” Each of the of the other Beatitudes has a similar mediation.
This Thursday on the feast day of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother at 6:30 pm parking lot mass we will celebrate the dedication of our Parish Via de Paz Prayer Garden with the unveiling of the statue of our Blessed Mother. So, join us is you can. In Ephesians Paul tells his listeners to let go of all bitterness and anger and instead seek the way of kindness and compassion forgiving one another as God as forgiven you in Christ. Do this and you will be blessed. For blessed are the poor in spirit theirs is the kingdom of God.
