Of these eight qualities [found in the Beatitudes], which two do you desire most in your life? Why? Who in your group or family do you associate with each? (Serendipity Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, pages 1343-4).
Matthew 5:3-12
New Living Translation (NLT)
The Beatitudes
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
The eight qualities are 1) the poor who realize their need for God, 2) those who mourn, 3) those who are humble, 4) those who hunger and thirst for justice, 5) those who are merciful, 6) the pure in heart (for they will see God, 7) those who work for peace, and 8) those persecuted for doing right.
My mother’s epitaph is number 6, “God blesses those who hearts are pure for they will see God.” This is the keystone of all the beatitudes, for if one is pure in heart one sees God (but not just the “who” or “what” of God, but also the “how,” “when,” and “where” of God.) The pure of heart sees God in the poor who realize their need for him; he sees God comforting those who mourn; he sees God blessing the humble; he sees God as the source of mercy for the merciful; he sees God in the accomplishments of those who hunger and thirst for justice; he see God in the efforts of those working for peace, and he sees past the storm of controversy and opprobrium to God’s inner peace provided for those persecuted for doing right. My prayer then comes down to this in the end, may I be pure in heart so that I will see God whenever, however, and wherever he is realized on earth. And we must remember this: Jesus held all these qualities, but the sine que non was purity of heart.
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