Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 5:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 5When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Verse 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
Verse 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Verse 4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Verse 5"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Verse 6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Verse 7"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Verse 8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Verse 9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Verse 10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Verse 11"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Verse 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Devotion
"Guess what the first words out of her mouth were?" We cherish first words; they promise to unlock a mystery. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus' first words at the beginning of his public ministry begin with a string of blessings: "Blessed are the poor in spirit ... . Blessed are those who mourn ... ." These blessings spill over the crowd listening to him, delivering what they promise. By the end of Matthew's gospel, Jesus reveals that as those he blessed fed the hungry, clothed the naked and gave drink to the thirsty, they have blessed him. Biblical blessings are leaky like that: they overflow. Let the first words out of our mouth be words of blessing, so that blessed by God, we may be a blessing to others.
Prayer
Most High God, you are a God of blessing, and we praise you for blessing us with your son, Jesus. Continue to shower your many blessings upon us, and grant that, blessed by you, we may be a blessing to others. Amen.