Rejoice in the Promise of Jesus (The Beatitudes)

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  • Communion 
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    Rejoice in the Promise of Jesus 
      
    REFRAIN
    Rejoice in the promise of Jesus, 
    for yours is the kingdom of God. 
    Be glad in the gospel of Jesus, 
    for you are beloved and blest. 

    VERSES
    Blest are you lowly and poor in spirit, 
    finding your wealth not in gold, 
    setting your sights not on power and glory, 
    but trusting in God alone. 

    Blest are you mourners who live with sorrow, 
    grieving the evil on earth, 
    hung’ring for righteousness, thirsting for justice; 
    for you are consoled by God.

    Blest are you merciful, swift to pardon, 
    showing compassion to all, 
    patient with failings and tender toward weakness; 
    God’s mercy is shown to you.

    Blest are you, hearts that are pure and faithful 
    wholly surrendered to Love, 
    giving of self to your Maker and neighbor; 
    the favor of God is yours.

    Blest are you scorned and reviled, insulted, 
    scoffed at, despised by the strong, 
    slandered because of me, mocked by the mighty, 
    but honored by God, and praised. 

    Blest are you peacemakers, building bridges, 
    gentle in speaking your truth, 
    list’ning and learning from others who differ, 
    all children of God, like you.

     

    Text by Delores Dufner, OSB, © 2015, Sisters of St. Benedict, 104 Chapel Lane, St. Joseph, MN 56374. All rights reserved. Published by OCP.

     

    Jesus turned upside-down the conventional values of power, wealth, and status. Instead, he preached mercy, simplicity, and inclusivity. This paraphrase of the Beatitudes challenges us to be as counter-cultural as Jesus was, trusting in God rather than in human solutions. 

    —Delores Dufner, OSB
     

    This musical setting of The Beatitudes may be used in a variety of ways. The haunting verses in E minor give way to a joyous refrain in G major. The verses are easily sung by the assembly or could be sung by a cantor or choir, especially when introducing the piece. Also, the verses can be sung consecutively, perhaps in groups of two, with the Refrain coming in as desired. Liturgically, this piece works well during Communion. 

    —Scot Crandal 



     

    METER 
    Refrain 9 8 9 8 • Verses 10 7 11 7  
       
    SOURCES 
    Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-23; The Jerome Biblical Commentary; Spirituality of the Beatitudes by Michael H. Crosby, OFM Cap.  
       
    THEMES 
    The Beatitudes are cause for rejoicing, because they tell us that God favors those often scorned by the world. The beatitudes summarize the gospel preaching of Jesus, reversing the conventional values of wealth, status, and power.