The Poor in Spirit

12/23- The Beatitudes- - Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, those who mourn, the meek

Read: “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”

 46And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord,47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. (Luke 1:46-48)

Thoughts: Jesus is saying the weak will be strong.  In some ways Jesus was all three of these- He was poor in spirit- he was humble- born in a manger, lived without a home.  He mourned over the sadness of sin and death.  He was meek- turning the other cheek.  He deserved all the world’s worship, but instead Jesus was ignored.  Mary, his mother, no doubt taught Jesus this concept- that God lifts up the humble.  if we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord then He will lift us up.  
    Jesus asks us by His blessing to value being a servant instead of a King;  He would ask us to value sadness as a teacher and a way to get closer to the God who comforts us.  He would ask us to believe it is the humble who will be exalted by God in the end.  God values things that are available to anyone.  Anyone can be humble.  Not everyone has a lot to be proud of.  The poorest person is valued by God.  Jesus teaches us to value the things of the heart more than the toys of the earth. 

Activity: Donate mittens and gloves to Good Works.  Mary will distribute to those in need.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see value when things do not go my way.  Help me to find your help when I am sad or when our family has bad things happen.  

[Below: Jesus blesses the children- humbled in stature]