When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:1-12
It is very easy to get discouraged when pain and loss surround us. We might have heard the words from the mountaintop, and we did surely believe them. Yet, when we are in the deep valleys of our lives, it can be hard to remember, to recall the promises made. In dark times, we can forget that we are beloved of God and blessed despite the circumstances.
Jesus is teaching a great crowd who have climbed up great heights to hear him. They are not celebrities, the wealthy or the powerful. They are the hardworking and often rejected folks who needed a word of hope. From the lips of the Son of God, they hear that they are more than just good, but loved and blessed. They are the desire of God's heart! And that word is ours today, despite how high the climb or how low we might be. God calls us to remember these words and the life of all the prophets, knowing we are blessed, even as we are abused in neglected in our time.
I ask God to give me the strength to embrace the promises from the mountain top and live as the blessed of God. May we live as those who serve others because we are loved and blessed by God.
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