Happy are the kind and merciful!

Matthew 5:1-12

One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the hillside with his disciples and sat down and taught them there. “Humble men are very fortunate!” he told them, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. Those who mourn are fortunate! for they shall be comforted. The meek and lowly are fortunate! for the whole wide world belongs to them. “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. Happy are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Happy are those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God. Happy are those who strive for peace—they shall be called the sons of God. Happy are those who are persecuted because they are good, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “When you are reviled and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers—wonderful! Be happy about it! Be very glad! for a tremendous reward awaits you up in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted too.

Food for thought

The gospel reading begins by saying, "One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the hillside with his disciples and sat down and taught them there." It all started by seeing the crowds gathering up around Jesus. When we come to Jesus, Jesus comes to us; he is not indifferent to those who come to him. What did Jesus tell those people who gathered around Him?

Many people think that those who go to Jesus or to the church to pray are the poor, the cursed or the sick. Jesus thinks the opposite. What Jesus sees is a blessing, a happiness, a joy that is beyond all suffering and poverty. Jesus sees happiness even in the suffering, in the poor. In us there is something special; yes, in all of us there is a happiness buried under problems and worry and suffering. We need to learn to see through the eyes of Jesus in order to see our worth.

We normally judge people according to what they have and own. For us, the happy people are the rich; the rich people are the happy. But this is not always true; happiness is not tangible, it is not material, it is not visible. Happiness is spiritual because it is in the spirit. And since God created us in his own image and likeness, the likeness of man is in his being spiritual. That is why it is possible to be happy and poor, to be happy despite suffering, to be happy in gentleness, to be happy in the hardships of life, to be happy in persecution.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to be happy no matter what is taking place in their lives? There is a buoyancy to their spirit and a sparkle to their personalities. A kind of glowing field of energy seems to radiate from their faces, their words, and from their works. There are others who seem to be predisposed to gloomy, negative thoughts. They seem to live in a perpetual shower of unhappiness.

The happiest people are those who are working to give happiness to others. Happiness is not found by seeking it; it is a by-product of trying to help others. "Happiness is by-product of an effort to make someone else happy." (Getter Palmer).

Happy are the kind and merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. (Jesus)

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or worn. It is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude. (Denis Waitley)