Beatittudes

Blessed are the poor 

For theirs is the kingdom

Blessed are those who mourn 

For they will be comforted

And blessed are the meek 

For they will inherit the earth

And blessed are those who hunger and thirst 

For they will be filled

Blessed are the merciful 

For they will be shown mercy

Blessed are the pure in heart 

For they will see God Almighty

And blessed are the peacemakers 

For they will be called His children

And blessed are the persecuted 

For they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven

The lyrics of Shawn McDonald's song "Hallelujah" are a direct echo of Jesus' words during his Sermon on the Mount. I love it. I think these verses perfectly encapsulate the core of Christianity. I think that's exactly what Jesus was looking to do. To tell people that they don't need to clamor for Earth's so called "riches" when it means they will lose their soul, integrity, and eventually their life. I think the other great thing about it is it shows that we don't need to improve ourselves to be blessed. We dont need to drive the best car, wear the best clothes, have the biggest house, be the highest in power, know the important people or anything like that. We just need to come as we are. 

The next big thing that's been on my mind is what it would look like the honestly live that that. To give away all possesions, to mourn for the things that hurt, to endure hardship brought on by others with patience and without resentment, to be hungry and thirst for righteousness (can imagine wanting righteousness as badly as you want Chipotle after a long day?), to be compassionate to those who don't deserve it, to stay away from all things corupt, to keep peace when enraged beyond belief, to be okay with being judged and ridiculed just for being you. How incredible would your life be? I can not even imagine. What would it be like to wake up each morning and commit whole heartedly to living in such a way? Can you imagine waking up and selling all the absurd clothes that you never wear? To let it slide when people dear to you attack you with words that hurt? And to think that for those small things you are promised a kingdom, to be comforted, the whole world, to be filled, shown mercy, see God, be called a child of THE God, and to have all of Heaven at your fingertips. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

If only we weren't so humanly flawed......