“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” // Matthew 5:12

There’s a scene in The Chosen TV Series that I really love. 

Jesus has been preparing His famous Sermon on the Mount, and He comes to Matthew to share words that He wants to include. “Directions,” He says. “Where people should look to find Me.”

What follows are the words that we now know as the Beatitudes. As each phrase is said, the screen flashes to images of the close friends of Jesus. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . ” Nathanael under the fig tree.

“Blessed are those who mourn . . . ” Andrew mourning John the Baptist’s arrest.

“Blessed are the meek . . . ” James and Jude quietly doing tasks to aid Jesus’ ministry. 

And so on. 

Of course it’s not certain that this scene is actually what occurred when this Scripture was written, but the imaginative prayer that it has given me makes the words of Jesus even more personal. 

Jesus notices every heart that walks with Him. He sees every wound, every effort, and every sliver of hope in their stories. With a look of pure love on His face, He knows that these are the stories of saints. 

Often, no one sees the Beatitudes in action. Poverty, grief, meekness, hunger, mercy, purity, peacemaking, persecution—these are quiet, hidden places to live out of faith. 

The heavy sigh from a spirit that feels too tired to handle any more bad news.

The act of generosity or humility that never gets recognized.

Seasons of mourning that feel utterly hopeless. 

Jesus sees every hidden moment, and He promises endless reward for our perseverance.  

Today we celebrate All Saints Day. Sainthood is fostered in a heart that is attentive to the things that Christ is attentive to. In today’s Gospel (see Matthew 5:1-12a), Jesus tells us explicitly the kind of hearts that will live forever in Heaven. May we look for people like this now, love them well, and walk with them closely. 

And if you see your own messy story in these words, may you also see the message of hope tucked in the second half of every Beatitude: Jesus sees you.