matthew 5: beatitudes: poor in spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Matthew 5: 3-12

Luke 6:20 simply has "blessed are the poor"; that Matthew adds (*) "in spirit" is seen to be of great import. The phrase does not appear in the Old Testament, but Psalm 34:18 comes close. ("The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.") The phrase "poor in spirit" occurs in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and seems to have been an important notion to the Qumran community.
Matthew 5:3 - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_5:3
(*) or was Matthew's gospel first? Did Luke drop "in spirit" from Matthew's gospel in his (Luke's) gospel? or, perhaps, Matthew and Luke wrote their gospels independent, and different, from each other? The Dating of the Gospels

needless to say, there is a great difference between "blessed are the poor" and "blessed be the poor in spirit".

what does "blessed be the poor in spirit" mean to you?

Here's what Billy Graham had to say: 

We must be humble in our spirits. If you put the word “humble” in place of the word “poor,” you will understand what Jesus meant. In other words, when we come to God, we must realize our own sin and our spiritual emptiness and poverty. We must not be self-satisfied or proud in our hearts, thinking we don’t really need God. If we are, God cannot bless us. The Bible says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

What does it mean to be poor in spirit, as Jesus said we ought to be? 

the person in this video makes a connection between poor in spirit and The Virtue of Fortitude: A Gift of the Holy Spirit

"poor in spirit" could also mean a broken spirit--broken by guilt, fear, anxiety and depression. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Does this mean that God forgives those whose spirit is broken by their own sins, and by their guilt, fear, anxiety and depression? I like to think so.

We Are the Light of the World -Jean A. Greif lyrics - YouTube

image by Scripture As Art

Matthew 5:3 | public domain World English Bible® Dahlia phot… | Flickr

Divine Mercy chaplet

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet 

https://www.thedivinemercy.org/library/how-pray-chaplet-download 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/146857093@N05/37570142651

attribution: Philip K and flickr

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/deed.en

Man of Sorrows: Jesus Knows Our Suffering

 

Man of Sorrows: Jesus Knows Our Suffering 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wroc%C5%82aw_Christ_as_Man_of_Sorrows.jpg

attribution: National Museum in Warsaw, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Is the devil as powerful as God?

 

https://billygraham.org/answers/devil-powerful-god 

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

https://www.flickr.com/photos/artofthemystic/5469451357

attribution: Otto Rapp and flickr

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good news

The Greek word "gospel" translates into English as "good news".

John 3:16 is the "good news" that gives understanding to our lives. Without John 3:16 our lives in this evil world--made evil by our sins--makes no sense. 

Praise God for the "good news".  
Amen

What do you tell a 5 or 6 year old child about being a Christian? When I was a child in catholic grade school, I was taught: "if you're good, then you'll go to heaven. If you're bad, then you'll go to hell." Today, 70+ years later, I still hear the same thing from pulpits (along with "it's simple ... it's easy"). (There are passages in the bible that back this up.) 

I've had some people say to me "what else can you tell a six year old child? At that age they can't understand serious sin and our need for redemption in the same way that an adult can." While this may be true, why am I still hearing the same thing ("good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell") from pulpits 70+ years later? If it's true that bad people go to hell, then we're all going to hell. 

Jesus says that we should "keep His commandments" (John 15 9-17). While there's nothing in Jesus' command that's unclear or ambiguous, is it simple or easy? 

We all sin. Why do we sin? Answer: because we choose to. As damning as this is, the facts are that we all choose to sin.

Sometimes sin is unambiguous. We know that it's wrong and we do it anyway. There are other times when it isn't quite so clear. How do we treat ourselves and others who commit serious sin? Do we "trash" ourselves and others because we don't follow Jesus' commandments? Jesus didn't "trash" people who didn't follow His commandments (John 8 1-11, John 4: 4-42, John 8: 1-11, Luke 22: 54-62, etc.). Which is more important--the principle or the sinner?

The "bottom line" is that all people sin. We should keep God's commandments--but, we don't. We need a Redeemer. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nsUbPFDktY

Fortunately for us, the "good news" is that Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus loves those who believe in Him even though we sin. "...whoever believes in Jesus will not perish, but will have eternal life".

Praise be to God forever.

One last thing--don't tell a child "if you're good, then you'll go to heaven. If you're bad, then you'll go to hell." It's simply not true--and, it could stick with the child for the rest of their life on earth. Tell a child instead: "God loves you. If you love God like God loves you, then, when you die, you will live with God forever in heaven." 

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John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

https://www.christianity.com/bible/niv/john/16

Make Me A Channel of Your Peace | Prayer of St. Francis Song

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dr-michael-d-evans/8174550034/

attribution: Dr. Michael D Evans and flickr

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God knows everything about us

https://biblerepository.com/bible-verses-about-god-knowing-everything-about-us/ 

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attribution: kerrfunk1 and flickr

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trust Jesus completely, Matthew 16

The Pharisees and Sadducees came and, to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He said to them in reply, “[In the evening you say, ‘Tomorrow will be fair, for the sky is red’; and, in the morning, ‘Today will be stormy, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to judge the appearance of the sky, but you cannot judge the signs of the times.] An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.

In coming to the other side of the sea, the disciples had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus said to them, “Look out, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They concluded among themselves, saying, “It is because we have brought no bread.”When Jesus became aware of this he said, “You of little faith, why do you conclude among yourselves that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand, and do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many wicker baskets you took up? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up? How do you not comprehend that I was not speaking to you about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”Then they understood that he was not telling them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” 

Matthew 16

powerful less-than-20 minutes testimony in which chaplain Major (formerly sergeant) Struecker tells his story about how he trusted Jesus completely. 

Soldier of Christ - Army Major Jeff Struecker Tells His Inspiring Story of Survival - YouTube 

(you'll want to listen from 9:30 to 11:00 often--in these 90 seconds Major Struecker describes the moment when realized that he trusted Jesus completely.)
  

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeff_Struecker.jpg

By U. S. Air Force photo by Sue Sapp. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

most of us have never faced death in combat like Struecker did in mogadishu, somalia. his men said that there was something "different" about him. He wasn't afraid, morose or anxious. He was confident. His men wanted to know why. now, having listened to Struecker's testimony, you know why--because he completely trusts Jesus.

Be not afraid - YouTube

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The Compassion of Jesus

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Matthew 9 35-38

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Enrique_Simonet_-_Flevit_super_illam_-_1892.jpg

Enrique Simonet [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

luke 21: 5-19: "By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, "All that you see here--
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Then they asked him,
"Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered,
"See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

"Before all this happens, however,
they will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

luke 21: 5-19 

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The ego vs. the spirit

 

The ego vs. the spirit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/roland/532172002/

attribution: Roland Tanglao and  flickr

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psalm 98: shout to the lord

Sing a new song to the LORD,

for he has done marvelous deeds.

His right hand and holy arm

have won the victory.

The LORD has made his victory known;

has revealed his triumph in the sight of the nations,

He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God.

II

Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth;

break into song; sing praise.

Sing praise to the LORD with the lyre,

with the lyre and melodious song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

shout with joy to the King, the LORD.

III

Let the sea and what fills it resound,

the world and those who dwell there.

Let the rivers clap their hands,

the mountains shout with them for joy,

Before the LORD who comes,

who comes to govern the earth,

To govern the world with justice

and the peoples with fairness.

Psalm 98 

Shout To The Lord - Hillsong Worship - YouTube 

My Jesus, my Saviour

Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hand
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You

My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

You're my comfort

(My comfort)
And my shelter
(My shelter)
You're my tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hand
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You

Oh shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hand
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You

https://www.flickr.com/photos/worshipbackgrounds/12196426435/

attribution: Sapphire Dream Photography and flickr

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Matthew 6:34

What does Matthew 6:34 mean?

Jesus acknowledges that life comes with its share of difficulties and uncertainties, and rather than attempting to control every aspect of it, He invites His followers to surrender their concerns to Him.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/snapnpiks0304/12022095816/in/pool-fellowshipinchrist

attribution: Snapnpiks and flickr

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Luke 15: 1-7, the LORD is my shepherd

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them he addressed this parable. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. 

Luke 15: 1-7

Like a Shepherd (Bob Dufford, SJ) - YouTube

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bernhard_Plockhorst_-_Good_Shephard.jpg

Bernhard Plockhorst [Public domain]

Isaiah 58:11

What Does Isaiah 58:11 Mean?

Why Exactly Did Jesus Curse a Fig Tree?

 

Why Exactly Did Jesus Curse a Fig Tree?

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attribution: Ian W. Scott and flickr

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Isaiah 45: "I am the LORD, there is no other, there is no God besides me."

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
Subduing nations before him,
stripping kings of their strength,
Opening doors before him,
leaving the gates unbarred:
I will go before you
and level the mountains;
Bronze doors I will shatter,
iron bars I will snap.

I will give you treasures of darkness,

riches hidden away,
That you may know I am the LORD,
the God of Israel, who calls you by name.
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel my chosen one,
I have called you by name,
giving you a title, though you do not know me.

I am the LORD, there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you do not know me,
so that all may know, from the rising of the sun
to its setting, that there is none besides me.

I am the LORD, there is no other.

I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make weal and create woe;

I, the LORD, do all these things.

Let justice descend, you heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the clouds drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let righteousness spring up with them!

I, the LORD, have created this.

Woe to anyone who contends with their Maker;

a potsherd among potsherds of the earth!

Shall the clay say to the potter, “What are you doing?”

or, “What you are making has no handles”?

Woe to anyone who asks a father, “What are you begetting?”

or a woman, “What are you giving birth to?”
Thus says the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, his maker:
Do you question me about my children,
tell me how to treat the work of my hands?
It was I who made the earth
and created the people upon it;
It was my hands that stretched out the heavens;
I gave the order to all their host.
It was I who stirred him up for justice;
all his ways I make level.
He shall rebuild my city
and let my exiles go free
Without price or payment,
says the LORD of hosts.
Thus says the LORD:
The earnings of Egypt, the gain of Ethiopia,
and the Sabeans, tall of stature,
Shall come over to you and belong to you;
they shall follow you, coming in chains.
Before you they shall bow down,
saying in prayer:
“With you alone is God; and there is none other,
no other god!

Truly with you God is hidden,

the God of Israel, the savior!

They are put to shame and disgrace, all of them;

they go in disgrace who carve images.

Israel has been saved by the LORD,
saved forever!
You shall never be put to shame or disgrace
in any future age.”

For thus says the LORD,

The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not as an empty waste did he create it,
but designing it to be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I have not spoken in secret
from some place in the land of darkness,
I have not said to the descendants of Jacob,
“Look for me in an empty waste.”
I, the LORD, promise justice,
I declare what is right.

Come and assemble, gather together,
you fugitives from among the nations!
They are without knowledge who bear wooden idols

and pray to gods that cannot save.
Come close and declare;
let them take counsel together:
Who announced this from the beginning,
declared it from of old?
Was it not I, the LORD,
besides whom there is no other God?
There is no just and saving God but me.
Turn to me and be safe,
all you ends of the earth,
for I am God; there is no other!
By myself I swear,
uttering my just decree,
a word that will not return:
To me every knee shall bend;
by me every tongue shall swear,

Saying, “Only in the LORD
are just deeds and power.
Before him in shame shall come
all who vent their anger against him.
In the LORD all the descendants of Israel
shall have vindication and glory.” 

Isaiah 45

Turn to Me (John Foley, SJ) - YouTube 

Isaiah 45:19 | Sapphire Dream Photography | Flickr

psalm 103: "Bless the LORD, my soul."

Of David.

I

Bless the LORD, my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, my soul;
and do not forget all his gifts,
Who pardons all your sins,
and heals all your ills,
Who redeems your life from the pit,

and crowns you with mercy and compassion,
Who fills your days with good things,
so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

II

The LORD does righteous deeds,
brings justice to all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,
to the Israelites his deeds.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy.

He will not always accuse,
and nurses no lasting anger;
He has not dealt with us as our sins merit,
nor requited us as our wrongs deserve.

III

For as the heavens tower over the earth,
so his mercy towers over those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
For he knows how we are formed,
remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like the grass;
he blossoms like a flower in the field. 

A wind sweeps over it and it is gone;
its place knows it no more.
But the LORD’s mercy is from age to age,
toward those who fear him.
His salvation is for the children’s children
of those who keep his covenant,
and remember to carry out his precepts.

IV

The LORD has set his throne in heaven;
his dominion extends over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,

mighty in strength, acting at his behest,
obedient to his command.
Bless the LORD, all you his hosts,
his ministers who carry out his will.
Bless the LORD, all his creatures,
everywhere in his domain.
Bless the LORD, my soul! 

psalm 103

PRAISE THE LORD MY SOUL by John Foley - Saint Louis Jesuits: with lyrics - YouTube 

image by Tito & Eva Marie Balangue

Psalm 103:11 | For as high as the heavens are above the eart… | Flickr

2 corinthians 4: "we hold this treasure in earthen vessels"

Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged. Rather, we have renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or falsifying the word of God, but by the open declaration of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of [Jesus] Christ. 

But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. 

2 corinthians 4 

Earthen Vessels lyrics video - YouTube 

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By Fjmustak [CC BY-SA 4.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

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cuddler

Our daughter is a volunteer cuddler in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Winchester VA Medical Center. Yesterday she attended an annual reunion for cuddlers and the families of babies who  they cuddle.

She texted us:

"You will never believe this, but some parents approached me with their daughter. She immediately smiled and reached for me. Her parents said "Oh my gosh, she must remember you!" Only a couple cuddlers got to hold her. She was born a little over 1 pound."

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cXUf3aRdW9et43yt7

We believe you, Michelle. An amazing gift from God to you to cherish forever.