You are Shining Radiance!
Praying with the Aramaic Jesus:
Finding Inspiration and Purpose
Presented by Joy Andrews Hayter

Online via Zoom
Saturday
November 7, 2026
9 am to 12:00 pm Mountain Time
$50
Scholarships are available.
Apply Below
You all are shining radiance, flowing together in time outside of time. Let go of trying to define or limit yourselves, boxing in the radiance within: but let your inner light bear witness to the Holy within you, shining forth all around you.
—Matthew 5:14-15, an interpretation from the Peshitta* text in Aramaic
As you read the passage above, how does it sit with you? What sensations, feelings, images come up for you?
We already know that the words of Jesus are full of inspiration and advice on how to live a life with purpose and meaning, anchored in the Living One. When we look at the words from the Aramaic—the language Jesus spoke—even more dimensionality shines forth, almost like a prism that splits white light into its many colors. These additional dimensions tell us about our wholeness, our oneness with the divine, and about the love that can shine through us, illuminating and inspiring our neighbors.
You might be wondering how this version of scripture above emerged so differently from what we read in a standard bible. The roots of many Aramaic words have multiple meanings, inviting us to multiple levels of inference and exploration. In particular, when we approach these readings with a deeper consciousness, we may find these interpretations to be delightful fruit for our prayer life—our intimate walk with Ultimate Reality.
In this experiential presentation, Joy will:
This experience may inspire you to discover more dimensions within your own being, and provide insight into how we might express the love that Yeshua encourages us to share.
Recording Note: This event will be recorded. All registrants will receive a copy of the Zoom recording within two weeks of the event.
At the allegorical level, one begins to understand the deeper meaning of scripture to which Jesus invited his disciples when he said, “If you have ears to hear, please hear...” The Word of God is not only addressed to our heart; it is addressed above all to who we are at the deepest level. We are rooted in God, and by accessing that divine energy we are united with God and able to do what Jesus did: be a manifestation of God’s tenderness and compassion among the people we serve and love.
—Thomas Keating, Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit
About Joy Andrews Hayter, Ph.D.
Joy is a spiritual director, Centering Prayer Presenter, author and retired scientist. She has studied Aramaic since 2021, initially in a 30-hour course over eight months with a branch of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She continues her study currently with a tutor in Aramaic.
*Joy works with the Peshitta version of the New Testament in Aramaic, found for example at dukhrana.com. The Peshitta is a version of the Old and New Testaments in Syriac, a dialect of Eastern Aramaic.
Joy enjoys opening up scripture, offering retreats, and she is the author of The Cosmic Web: Hope for Our World Through Spirituality and Science, with foreword by Cynthia Bourgeault. You can find out more about her at joyfulfillment.com.

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