BLESSED ARE.

flaggin · Helping Hand III

unless there is some written clause in fine print that indicates that i am blessed only if i proclaim absolute faith in Him, then my bases are covered.

"HOW BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT; the reign of Lord is
theirs. How blessed are those who are content with their daily bread and are
not anxious about tomorrow nor to gather more than they need. Blessed are
they because, if they seek first the kingdom of Lord and do His will, everything
else will be given to them. How much more will their heavenly Father take
care of them who cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.

BLESSED, TOO, ARE THE SORROWING: they shall be consoled. How
blessed are those who are tried like gold in the furnace. Their bodies and souls
are refined much more perfectly than gold or silver in the refiner's fire, and
their heavenly Father gathers from them abundant fruit at harvest time, as
from a well pruned vine laden with grapes. Your heavenly Father is the
vinegrower and prunes away every barren branch, but the fruitful ones He
trims clean to increase their yield (John 15:1-2). He is like a master craftsman
who chips away at a block of marble. He will not rest until He has brought
forth the masterpiece He had planned to create. In your pains and sorrows, in
your trials and tribulations, therefore, do not weep or lament. Rejoice instead
and be glad, because Lord has tried you and found you worthy of Himself
(Wis. 3:5).

BLESSED, TOO, ARE THE LOWLY: they shall inherit the land. They
set their hearts and souls in silence and peace, and shall not be disturbed. As a
child has rest in his mother's arms, so are they. They know that man's life is
just a breath. It is like a flower that blossoms in the morning and by evening
it whithers and fades (Ps. 90:6). But in their lowliness they sing the glory of
Lord the Almighty who has given them life, even for just one day.

BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR HOLINESS:
they shall have their fill. Come to me, all of you who thirst, and I will give
you a water leaping up to provide eternal life. Everyone who drinks this
water will never be thirsty again (John 4:13-14). Come to me, all you who
hunger, and I will give you a bread come down from heaven, a bread that will
make you holy as Lord is holy.

BLESSED ARE THEY WHO SHOW MERCY: mercy shall be theirs. As
your heavenly Father shows mercy toward you all, who are weak, fragile,
broken by sin and evil desires, so must you show mercy toward your brothers
and sisters. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Put aside now all anger and
quick temper, all insults and foul language, all malice and lying. Put aside
your old self and put on a new man, one who grows in the knowledge of the
ways of Lord and is formed anew in the image and likeness of his Creator.
Because you are Lord's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with
heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with
one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another;
forgive as the Lord has forgiven you (Col. 3:5-13).

BLESSED ARE THE SINGLE-HEARTED AND THE PURE OF HEART:
they shall see Lord. Blessed are they who see the goodness and splendor of
Lord, His image and likeness, reflected in every creature. He who knows how
to see, knows also how to believe, because the one who really sees, believes.
Blessed, therefore, are those who contemplate the wisdom and love of Lord
present in all His creation and give honor and glory to their Creator. Blessed
are they because they have eyes to see and they see; they have ears to hear and
they hear.

BLESSED, TOO, ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: they shall be called sons of
Lord. Blessed are they who live in harmony with Cod's creation and with one
another, for they do the will of their Father in heaven. If you come to the
altar and remember that your brother has something against you, go first to be
reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift (Matt. 5:23-24).
Be of one mind and one heart all of you, united in spirit and ideals. Never act
out of rivalry or conceit; rather, let all parties think humbly of others as
superior to themselves, each one of you looking to others' interests rather
than his own (Phil. 2:2-4).

BLESSED ARE THOSE PERSECUTED FOR JUSTICE' S SAKE: the reign
of Lord is theirs. Do you think I have come to establish peace on earth? I
assure you, the contrary is true. I have come for division. From now on, even
a household of five will be divided three against two and two against three;
father will be split against son and son against father (Luke 12:49-53). You
must bear witness to the truth: I am the Truth. You must stand up for the
sake of justice: I am Justice. You must come forward and defend life, even
from the moment of conception, for I am Life. If you deny me, I will deny you
on the day of judgement (2 Tim. 2:12-13). If the whole world goes against
truth, justice and life, then you certainly must go against the whole world (Cf.
St. Athanasius). Your heavenly Father is the Lord of History and His divine
providence guides the affairs of men. He will not be defeated by evil. So stand
by Him who can draw good even from evil.

BLESSED ARE YOU WHEN THEY INSULT YOU AND PERSECUTEYOU and utter every kind of slander against you because of me: be glad and
rejoice, for your reward in heaven is great. For thus says the Lord Lord, the
Holy One of Israel: By waiting and by calm you shall be saved; in quiet and in
trust your strength lies (Is. 30:15). All will hate you because of me, yet not a
hair of your head will be harmed. By patient endurance, you will save your
souls (Luke 21:17-19). Calm your anger and forget your rage. Do not fret, for it
only leads to evil. For those who do evil shall perish; the patient will inherit
the Kingdom (Ps. 37). Rather, be glad and rejoice, because you have been
made worthy to suffer something because of me" (Cf. Acts 5:41).