Beatitude #5 & 6

5:7 “Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.”

“What goes around will come around,”
we often hear folks say
referring to some nasty thing
that soon will come your way
because you did a dirty deed
to someone in your path.
And so you’ll end up suffering
from cru-el Karma’s wrath.
But Jesus said, be merciful
to all those that you meet.
Show them real compassion
and make God’s love complete
by doing something for them
to ease what causes pain.
Then you will see its mercy
that comes around again.

5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.”

Those Hallmark moments make us think
the heart is full of love.
But Jesus said the heart is full
of stuff to get rid of
like coveting and arrogance,
adultery, lust and pride
that give our thoughts and words the stench
of something that has died.
This cesspool needs to be cleaned out
and that takes Holy Grace.
When we accept the gift of Christ,
His Spirit can replace
the wickedness, deceit and hate
with empathy and love.
That pure heart opens up our eyes
to blessings from above.
So if you want to see the Lord
the way most people don’t
you have to do the sort of things
most other people won’t.
You have to focus on the things
that God wants you to do.
Then you will see God’s glory
in what’s surrounding you.

Jeff Hildebrandt © July 19, 2012