Monday 8 June 2026 - Blessed are the peacemakers
Today's episode of Pray As You Go centers on the Beatitudes from Matthew's Gospel, inviting listeners to reflect on what it means to be 'blessed' not in worldly terms, but through spiritual qualities like poverty of spirit, mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking. The episode highlights St. James Berthieu, a Jesuit martyr from Madagascar who died in 1896 refusing to renounce his faith, embodying the very virtues Jesus blesses. Rather than being achievements earned through effort, the Beatitudes are portrayed as the natural outcome of allowing God to work within us—mirroring the character of Christ himself. The reflection challenges listeners to identify which of these blessings feels most difficult or distant in their current life, urging a deeper interior dialogue with Jesus. The episode concludes with a quiet space for personal prayer, emphasizing that true blessing comes not from success or comfort, but from alignment with God’s kingdom values.
The Beatitudes are not about self-improvement but about allowing God to shape your character.
Peacemakers are called 'children of God'—a divine identity rooted in reconciliation, not compromise.
St. James Berthieu’s martyrdom exemplifies the Beatitudes in action: persecuted for righteousness, he remained faithful.
God’s blessings often reverse worldly standards—those the world sees as 'losers' are the ones blessed by God.
When a Beatitude feels alien, it reveals where you need grace most—ask Jesus for that quality directly.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction and Anniversary Celebration
The episode opens with a reflection on the feast of St. James Berthieu and announces the upcoming 20th anniversary celebration of Porter's Gate and Pray As You Go, featuring a concert and prayer event in London on June 13th.
Opening Song: 'This Present Moment'
The episode features the first song from the Companion Songs album, 'This Present Moment,' sung by Dee Wilson, inspired by the Jesuit prayer 'Patient Trust' by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Gospel Reading: The Beatitudes
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
St. James Berthieu: A Living Example
“Jesus' Beatitudes describe precisely the kind of person James became, poor in spirit, merciful, a peacemaker, persecuted for righteousness' sake.”
Reflective Questions on the Beatitudes
Listeners are invited to reflect on which Beatitude speaks most directly to their current life, which feels most challenging, and why—emphasizing that these are not self-achieved traits but gifts of grace.
“The Beatitudes don't describe qualities we achieve by our own effort. They describe the character of those who allow God to work in them.”
“Jesus' Beatitudes describe precisely the kind of person James became, poor in spirit, merciful, a peacemaker, persecuted for righteousness' sake.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Host
St. James Berthieu
person
Porter's Gate
organization
Pray As You Go
organization
Matthew 5:3–12
other
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
person
Holy Sepulchre Church
place
Companion Songs
media
Dee Wilson
person
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