The beatitudes
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[a] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Who can consider himself happy?
Saint Ambrosius of Milan, Letters, Letter XXIX, 19, in Church Fathers and Writers (1994), vol. 53, p. 153
„(…) Hapiness doesn`t consists in using riches, but in seeing Him to despise them and reject everything is against truth and consider these vain and useless and love that beauty of pure truth which shows how deceitful are the colors of this age.
Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Worship in spirit and truth,the 6th book, in Church Fathers and Writers (1991), vol. 38, pp. 207-208
I would see the forms of happiness being found according to the teaching of the Holy Scripture not in what this ugly and earthly body finds its delights but in what the soul which is beyond body may share eternal life and I consider that these ones are the endeavours for virtue and the radiance of faith and deeds.
Blessed Augustin, Confessiones – Confessions, the 10th book, XXVIII-XXIX, (39), (40), in Church Fathers and Writers (1985), vol. 64, p. 225
Woe to the happiness of this age and again woe because of the fear of misfortunes and of the destruction of joy. Woe to the happiness of the age and again woe for three times because of the desire for happiness and because misfortunes is tough and there is fear that patience may be destroyed. Isn`t it this human life a permanent trial? And all my hope lies only in Your great mercy.
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