Blessed Are They

Blessed are the poor in spirit. That is, blessed are those whose spirit does not covet and cling to things. Blessed are those who gratefully receive all things from the hand of God, and humbly rely on Him. Blessed are they, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn. That is, blessed are those who lament the fact that this world is not as God intends it to be. Blessed are they, for God will make good out of evil, and He will comfort those who grieve over iniquity and suffering.

Blessed are the meek. That is, blessed are those who do not insist on their own way. Blessed are those whose hearts are gentle and docile, and blessed are those whose lives are humbly entrusted to the merciful movement of the Holy Spirit. Blessed are they, for they will inherit the Promised Land.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. That is, blessed are those who hope for God to rectify and redeem the evils of this world. And blessed are those whose ongoing desire is to be increasingly filled with the righteousness and love of Christ’s Spirit. Blessed are they, for they indeed will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful. That is, blessed are those who patiently bear one another’s burdens, just as Christ bears theirs. Blessed are those who know that their own sin is in fact a big log in comparison to their neighbor’s sin, which is only a speck. Blessed are they, for they will obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart. That is, blessed are those whose hearts are not divided among many various false gods. Blessed are those whose entire lives are one long prayer of “thy will be done” to the one true God. Blessed are they, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers. That is, blessed are those who say “no” to gossip and backbiting. Blessed are those who interpret others’ actions in the most charitable light. And blessed are those who labor for reconciliation, unity, and good will. Blessed are they, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. That is, blessed are those whose commitment to goodness and truth persists even in the face of suffering and rejection. Blessed are those who persist in faith, hope, and love, even and especially when such virtue is despised by the world. Blessed are they, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

And blessed is Jesus Christ, the One who speaks and embodies these blessings. Blessed is He, and blessed are his people. That is, blessed are those who receive Him and his mercy, and are thereby transformed by his Spirit into his image.

Blessed are they.