Matthew 5: 1-12a The Saints Whom I Live Among On All Saints’ Day, we hear Jesus teach the Beatitudes. He invites us to notice people we might otherwise overlook those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers. He calls them blessed. I am learning that this way of seeing can begin with something as ordinary as choosing a seat in the dining room. Walkers and rollators—affectionately called “chariots”—are often double-parked around our tables in the dining room. Finding a seat may require a little maneuvering! But there is another kind of room to make: room for someone who hopes we will stop and sit beside her at a given table. Some of our Sisters living with dementia notice when others pass by their table—and when someone chooses to join them. We all share the desire to be welcomed, to belong, and to have others enjoy our company. One Sister often blesses us and thanks us for sitting at her table. I find myself thinking that Jesus would be delighted to sit at her table. And when she offers her blessing, I wonder if I am recognizing Jesus there. After the meal, comes the gentle untangling of the double-parked “chariots.” […]