October 11, 2016 – Matthew 5:7-8

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. Matthew 5:7-8When we look for protection from the bad guys, we often think of super heroes complete with super abilities and capes and masks to hide their identities, flying here and there.  Figments of imagination.  My Super Hero, no man has ever seen, for He is greater and more powerful than we can ever fathom or understand.   When He blesses us, His favor and protection is ever present for us.  His blessings go beyond this world and leap beyond death.  For God’s Son, Jesus, conquered death through Love.God has Mercy for us, that means forgiveness and compassion or caring, moment by moment and forever.  In these three verses, God gives three blessings and three promises.  He tells us how to be like Him and live with Him. He is our inheritance.God blesses us when we show mercy and forgive others.  He blesses us when our hearts are pure (free from sin).  He blesses us when we work for peace.  Working for peace takes forgiving others and living a pure life in our words and actions.What are the three promises?  We will be forgiven by God when we forgive is the first one.  We will see God in all His Glory is the second.  The third promise is even greater!  We will be called children of God.  The Children of the Creator of the Universe, the one who formed us in our Mother’s Womb.  But if we fail to live a pure life?  What if we don’t forgive?  What if we stir up contention or fight?The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”  Lamentations 3:22-24God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9