Those who cry will be comforted. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted

These words ring in the ears of the surprised crowd as something completely new and special. Such teachings are the opposite of everything they have ever heard from priests and rabbis. In them they find nothing that could flatter their pride or feed their ambitious hopes. This Teacher has a power that binds them. The fragrance of divine love spreads around His person like the scent of a fragrant flower. His words fall “like rain on a mown meadow, like drops that water the earth” (Ps. 71:6).

Everyone involuntarily feels that He reads the secret place of every soul and approaches them with tender compassion. Their hearts open before Him, and as they listen to Him, the Holy Spirit reveals to them the meaning of the teaching that people have so much needed at all times.

In Christ's day, the religious leaders of the people believed that they had spiritual gifts. The prayer of the Pharisee: “God, I thank Thee, that I am not like other men” (Luke 18:10), expresses the thoughts of their entire class, as well as the majority of the people of Israel. Nevertheless, in the crowd surrounding Jesus there were also those who were aware of their spiritual poverty. When one day, during a miraculous fishing trip, the divine power of Christ manifested itself, Peter, falling at the feet of the Savior, exclaimed: “Depart from me, Lord! For I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). The same thing was now happening among the crowd gathered on the mountain; and here were souls who, in His holy presence, felt that they were “wretched, and wretched, and blind, and poor, and naked” (Rev. 3:17), and longed for “the saving grace of God” (Titus 2:11). ). In such souls, the words of Christ actually awakened the hope that the Lord could bless them.

Jesus also offered the cup of blessing to those who thought that they were “rich and increased and had need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17), but they turned away from this precious gift with disdain. He who feels himself perfect, who thinks himself good enough, and who is satisfied with his present condition, does not seek to become a partaker of the grace and righteousness of Christ. The proud do not feel this need and therefore close their hearts to Christ and His abundant blessings. In such a heart there is no longer room for Jesus.

He who is rich and has achieved honor in his own eyes is unable to ask in faith and, therefore, cannot receive the blessing of God. He feels full and therefore leaves empty. But those who realize that they cannot save themselves and are incapable of doing good on their own will appreciate the help Christ offers to everyone. These are the very poor in spirit whom Christ calls blessed.

Before forgiving, Christ leads the soul to repentance, and conviction of sin is the work of the Holy Spirit. When convicted by the Holy Spirit, many realize that there is nothing good in their hearts, and everything they have done so far is tainted by sin and self. Like the poor publican, they stand aside, not even daring to raise their eyes to heaven, and say: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13); and they are worthy of blessing. For the repentant sinner, forgiveness is always ready, for Christ is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The promise of God is: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; "Though they be red as crimson, I will be as white as wool" (Isaiah 1:18). "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put in you... I will put My spirit within you and cause you to walk in the commandments My...you will be My people, and I will be your God" (Ezek. 36:26-28).

About the poor in spirit, Christ says: “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This is not a temporary earthly kingdom, as Jesus' listeners thought. Christ opened before them the spiritual kingdom of His love, grace and righteousness. The sign that Christ reigns in us is the similarity of our character to the character of the Son of Man. His subjects are the poor in spirit, the meek and humble, persecuted for the sake of righteousness; theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. And if the work of restoring this Kingdom in them is not yet completed, then it has already begun and prepares them to participate “in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12).

All who recognize themselves as poor in spirit, who feel that there is nothing good in them, can achieve righteousness and strength by looking to Christ. He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden” (Matt. 1:28). He invites us to exchange our poverty for the riches of His righteousness. In ourselves we are not worthy of such love of God; but Christ stood surety for us; He is fully worthy of it and is able to save all who come to Him. No matter how sad our past may be, no matter how deplorable our present situation may be, as soon as we approach Christ as we are - weak, helpless and pitiful - our merciful Savior immediately comes to meet us, takes us into His loving embrace, clothes us with His own robe of righteousness and in this form leads us to the Father. He asks God for us, saying, "I have taken the place of this sinner; look not at this lost child, but look at Me." No matter how persistently Satan fights against our soul, no matter how much he accuses us of sin, and no matter how great his claim on us as his prey, still the blood of Christ has great power.

Truly, “only with the Lord will they speak of Me, righteousness and power... By the Lord will all the tribe of Israel be justified and glorified” (Is. 45:24-25).

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"

The mourners we are talking about here are those who sincerely and sincerely mourn over sin. Jesus says: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Me” (John 12:32). Only one who looks at the Savior ascended to the cross is able to recognize all the sinfulness of humanity. He will understand that the sins of people are the cause of the suffering and death on the cross of the Lord of glory; he will understand that his life, despite Christ's tender love for him, is a constant expression of gratitude and indignation. He will understand that he has rejected his best Friend, despised the most precious heavenly gift; that by his actions he again crucified the Son of God, again pierced the wounded heart of the Savior. Now he is crying in anguish and heartfelt sadness, because... a wide and deep dark abyss separates him from God.

Such mourners will be comforted. The Lord reveals our guilt to us so that we can come to Him and find in Him liberation from the bonds of sin and rejoice in the freedom of true children of God. Only with sincere repentance in our hearts can we approach the foot of the cross and here forever lay aside all sorrows and suffering.

The Savior’s words are, as it were, a message of consolation to all those who grieve and cry. We know that no sorrow is accidental: “For He (the Lord) does not punish and grieve the sons of men according to the counsel of His heart” (Lamentations Jeremiah 3:33). If He allows misfortunes, He does so for “our benefit, that we may share in His holiness” (Heb. 12:10). Every misfortune and grief, no matter how heavy and bitter it may seem, will always serve as a blessing to those who endure it with faith. A heavy blow, which in one minute turns all earthly joys into nothing, can turn our gaze to heaven. Many people would never have known the Lord if grief had not prompted them to seek consolation from Him.

The difficult experiences of life are divine instruments through which He cleanses our character from imperfections and roughness and polishes it like a stone. Hewing, sculpting, grinding and polishing are painful. But living stones thus processed become fit to take their appointed place in the heavenly temple. The Lord does not spend so much labor and care on useless material; only His precious stones are cut according to their destination.

The Lord willingly helps everyone who trusts in Him, and those who are faithful to Him will win the greatest victories, comprehend the most precious truths, and have wonderful experiences.

The Heavenly Father never leaves those who cry and are dejected unattended. When David went up the Mount of Olives, weeping and covering his face as a sign of sorrow (2 Samuel 15:30), the Lord looked at him with compassion. David was dressed in mourning clothes, his conscience did not give him peace. His appearance showed his depressed state. In contrition of heart, he told God about his situation with tears, and the Lord did not abandon His servant. Never before had David been so dear to the infinitely loving Father as in these hours when he fled, saving his soul from enemies incited to revolt by his own son. The Lord says: “Those whom I love, I rebuke and punish. Therefore, be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19). Christ encourages the repentant heart and purifies the yearning soul until it becomes His abode.

However, many of us become like Jacob in times of distress. We think that disasters come from the enemy, and we fight against them in ignorance until our strength is exhausted and we are left without consolation and relief. Only at dawn did Jacob, thanks to a divine touch, recognize the Angel of the Covenant with whom he had been wrestling, and helpless he fell to His infinitely loving breast to receive the blessing that his soul so dearly desired. We must also learn to consider suffering as blessings, not to neglect God's punishments, and not to lose heart when He punishes us. “Blessed is the man whom God admonishes, and therefore do not reject the punishment of the Almighty... He inflicts wounds, and He Himself binds them; He strikes, and His hands heal. In six troubles He will save you, and in the seventh evil will not touch you” (Job 5:17-19). Jesus is close to every oppressed and sick person, ready to help him and heal him. The awareness of His presence eases our pain, our sorrow and our suffering.

The Lord does not want us to suffer in silence and be broken-hearted; on the contrary, He wants us to look up to Him and see His face shining with love. While blessing, the Savior stands next to many people whose eyes are so clouded with tears that they do not recognize Him. He wants to take us by the hand and lead us if we, like children, trust Him and look to Him with faith. His heart is always open to our grief, to our suffering and worries; He always surrounds us with His everlasting love and mercy. Our heart can rest in Him, day and night we can meditate on His love. He lifts our soul above daily sorrow and suffering and leads it into His Kingdom of peace.

Think about this, children of suffering and tears, and rejoice in hope. “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

Blessed are also those who weep with Christ out of a feeling of compassion for a sinful world. Such sadness is not associated with the slightest thought about one’s own self. Jesus is the "Man of Sorrows"; He suffered indescribable heartache. His soul was wounded by the crimes of mankind. To alleviate the suffering of people, to meet their needs, He acted selflessly; He felt extremely sorry for the crowd when He saw that they refused to come to Him to receive eternal life. All true followers of Christ will also have similar feelings. Once they feel His love, they will work with Him to save the lost. They will become partakers of the sufferings of Christ and His coming glory. Being united with Him in work, united in sorrow and suffering, they will become participants in His joy.

Jesus went through suffering and thereby became able to comfort others; He endured all human sorrows, fear and pain, “and as He Himself has endured, having been tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted” (Isa. 63:9; Heb. 2:18). This help can be used by everyone who shared His suffering. “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also abounds through Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5). The Lord shows special mercy to those who suffer and cry, which softens hearts and saves souls. His love paves the way to wounded and tormented hearts and becomes a sacred balm for the grieving. “The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us...in all affliction with the comfort with which God comforts us” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

"Blessed are the meek"

Considering in order the beatitudes expressed by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, we will find in them a certain consistency in the development of Christian experience. He who clearly realized his need for Christ, who really cried and grieved over sin and went through the school of suffering together with Christ, will learn meekness from the divine Teacher.

Neither Jews nor pagans have ever appreciated the patience and meekness shown in moments of triumph of injustice. Although, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Moses wrote about himself as the meekest man on earth (Num. 12:3), this was little appreciated by his contemporaries and aroused in them compassion or even contempt. Jesus counts meekness among the virtues that prepare us for the Kingdom of Heaven. In all its divine beauty it was manifested in the life and character of the Savior.

Jesus, who reflected the glory of His Father and did not consider it presumptuous to be equal with God, “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:17). He condescended to the most insignificant of this world, communicating with people not as a king demanding honor, but as one called to serve others. There was not a trace of hypocrisy or cold severity in His being. The Savior of the world was of a nobler nature than the angels; His divine greatness was associated with a special meekness, a special humility that attracted people.

Jesus humbled Himself; everything he did was subject to the will of the Father. When His work on earth was almost finished, He could freely say: “I have glorified You on earth, I have finished the work that You gave Me to do” (John 17:4). Contacting us. He says: “Learn from Me: for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself" (Matthew 16:24). Free yourself from the power of your own self, so that it no longer dominates your soul!

He who looks at the self-denial, meekness and humility of Christ will involuntarily repeat the words of Daniel, who, upon seeing the Son of Man, said: “The appearance of my face was greatly changed, and there was no courage in me” (Dan. 10:8). Our independence and autonomy, which we so love to show off, will then seem to us in their true light as signs of the enemy’s strength. Human nature constantly strives for superiority, is constantly ready to enter the world, but a person who has learned from Christ is free from his own self, from pride and the thirst for domination; peace reigns in his soul, for his own self has submitted to the influence of the Holy Spirit. We will no longer worry about getting a better place or a higher position for ourselves; we will not have the slightest desire to attract the attention of others; we will know that the best and highest place is at the feet of the Savior. We will look to Jesus and wait for His guidance, we will listen to His voice to guide us. The Apostle Paul personally experienced this and therefore says: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:19,20).

If Christ is a constant guest in our hearts, then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Although the Savior’s earthly life took place amid constant struggle, it was still filled with peace and tranquility. Even though He was constantly pursued by furious enemies, He still said, “He who sent Me is with Me; the Father has not left Me alone, for I always do that which pleases Him” (John 8:29). No manifestation of human or satanic rage was able to disturb His peace and constant fellowship with God. Addressing us, He says: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you (John 14:27). “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me: for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29). Bear with Him the yoke of a servant for the glory of God and for the benefit of fallen humanity, and you will see that His yoke is easy and the burden is light.

It is self-love that disrupts our peace. As long as our own “I” lives, we are always ready to protect it from any insult or injury; but if it has died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God, then no matter how neglected we are, no matter how low we are valued, all this will not cause us any pain. We will be deaf to reproaches and blind to ridicule and insults. “Love is long-suffering and merciful; love does not envy, love does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, does not seek its own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. . Love never fails, although prophecy will cease, and tongues will be silent, and knowledge will be abolished" (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

The happiness that pours out to us from earthly sources is as changeable as the circumstances that give rise to it; only the peace of Jesus is constant and eternal. It does not depend on living conditions, on earthly wealth or the number of friends. Christ is the source of living water, and the happiness He bestowed is everlasting.

In that home where the meekness of Christ is manifested, people have true happiness. Meekness does not cause discord and evil words, but calms the excited mood and spreads around itself a true feeling of satisfaction, affection and love;

here on earth such a family will be part of the great heavenly family.

It would be much better for us to suffer under the yoke of unjust accusations than to take revenge on the enemy ourselves and thus sin. The spirit of hatred and revenge comes from Satan and therefore can only bring harm to those who cherish it. The true secret of piety is hidden in heart humility and meekness, which is a consequence of abiding in Christ. “The Lord... glorifies the humble with salvation” (Ps. 149:4).

The meek will inherit the earth. The thirst for self-exaltation was the reason that sin entered the world and our first parents lost dominion over their kingdom - our beautiful land. By self-denial, Christ gained victory and advises us to overcome “as He overcame” (Rev. 3:21). By humility and self-sacrifice we can become joint heirs with Him, when “the meek will inherit the earth and enjoy the abundance of peace” (Ps. 37:11). But the land they promised would be different from this one, darkened by the shadow of death and damnation. “According to His promise, we look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). “And nothing shall be cursed any more: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him” (Rev. 22:3).

There will be no more disappointment, no more suffering, no more sin; There will be no more complaints: “I am sick.” There will be no funeral processions, no sadness, no death, no separation, no hearts torn by grief; for where Jesus is, there is eternal peace. “They will not suffer hunger or thirst, neither will heat or sun strike them; for He who has Mercy will guide them and bring them to springs of water” (Isa. 49:10).

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied"

Truth (according to other translations, righteousness) means holiness, godlikeness, and it is known about God that He “is love” (1 John 4:16). This is consistent with what is said about the law of God: “For all Your commandments are righteous” (Ps. 49:172), and “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10). Righteousness corresponds to love, and love is light and life; it is embodied in Jesus Christ, and by accepting Him we receive love.

Righteousness is not achieved by special effort or diligent work, not by gifts or sacrifices; it is a free gift offered to every hungering and thirsting soul. “You who are thirsty, come, all of you, to the waters; even you who have no silver, come, buy and eat; come, buy wine and milk without silver and without price” (Isa. 55:1). “Their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord,” and “they will call His name the Lord, our righteousness” (Isa. 54:17; Jer. 36:13).

There is no such person who would be able to satisfy the hunger or thirst of the soul. But Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35).

Just as we constantly need food to maintain our physical strength, so to preserve our spiritual life and gain strength to work in the cause of God, we need Jesus Christ - the bread of heaven. Just as the body constantly takes food to maintain life and energy, so the soul must be connected with Christ, must be devoted to Him and completely dependent on Him.

Just as a weary traveler in the desert strives for a spring to quench his thirst, so a Christian thirsts and desires the pure water of life, the source of which is Christ. As we come to know the perfection of Christ's character, we will have a desire to be completely transformed, cleansed, and conformed to His glorious image. The more deeply we know God, the higher our ideal of character becomes, and the stronger our desire to become conformed to the image of God. When the soul feels longing for God, divine power will come to the aid of human efforts, and the yearning heart will be able to say: “Take rest only in God, my soul! For in Him is my hope” (Ps. 61:6).

If you experience a feeling of need and a thirst for righteousness, this means that Christ has already acted on your heart, and it has begun to seek Him. By His Spirit He can accomplish what we ourselves are unable to do. There is no need for us to quench our thirst at a shallow stream when there is a great spring in front of us, from which we can drink enough to continue our wanderings along the path of faith.

The words of the Lord are the source of life, and those who seek this source are led by the Holy Spirit to Jesus. And then long-familiar truths appear to him in a new light, biblical texts - in a new meaning; he will understand the true relation of the various truths to the plan of salvation; he learns that Christ guides him, accompanies and protects him everywhere.

So the Lord poured out His love in an unlimited measure, like rain that refreshes the earth, He says: “Drink, O heavens from above, and let the clouds pour out righteousness; let the earth open and bring salvation, and let righteousness grow together” (Is. 45 :8). “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues dry with thirst; I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them. I will open rivers on the mountains and springs in the valleys; I will make the desert a lake and the dry land a spring water" (Isa. 41:17-18).

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16).

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy"

By nature, the human heart is cold, selfish and cruel. Only through the action of the Spirit of God does it show mercy and forgiveness. “Let us love Him, for He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The Lord is the source of all mercy; His name is “merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Ex. 34:6). It is not our merits that determine his attitude towards us; He does not ask whether we are worthy of His love, but simply pours out the riches of His love and thus makes us worthy. He is not vindictive; He does not want to punish, but, on the contrary, releases from punishment; even the severity which He exercises out of prudence serves to save the fallen. With all his soul, He desires to alleviate the suffering of humanity by pouring a saving balm on the wounds. Despite the fact that before God “there is none righteous, not one” (Rom. 3:10), He wants to blot out the guilt of everyone.

The merciful and merciful share in the divine nature, and divine love is manifested in them. Their hearts are in constant harmony with the Source of infinite love, so they strive not to judge their neighbor, but to save him. The presence of God within them is like a fountain that never runs dry. The heart where the Lord dwells is overflowing with good deeds.

When a poor, miserable, miserable victim of sin cries out for help, the Christian does not ask whether she is worthy of that help, but seeks how best to help her. In the most pitiful, in the most despicable person, he sees a soul for the salvation of which Christ once died. The duty laid upon the children of God is to help such souls to be reconciled to God. Those who sympathize with the poor, the suffering and the oppressed are truly merciful. Job says about himself: “Therefore I saved the crying sufferer and the helpless orphan; the blessing of the perishing man came to me, and I brought joy to the widow’s heart. I clothed myself with righteousness, and my judgment clothed me like a mantle that faded away. I was the eyes of the blind and the feet of the lame; I was the father of the poor, and I handled the litigation, which I did not know, carefully” (Job 29:12-16).

For many, life is a constant, painful struggle; they feel their shortcomings, they are unhappy and pitiful, their faith has dried up, and they think that they have nothing to be grateful for. A friendly word, a sympathetic look, an expression of sympathy would be for such people like a sip of cold water for a thirsty person; a kind service will ease the burden weighing on their weary shoulders. Every word, every manifestation of selfless love is an expression of God's love for perishing humanity.

Those who are merciful “will receive mercy.” “A charitable soul will be satisfied; and whoever gives drink to others will also be given drink” (Prov. 11:25). Peace reigns in the compassionate soul; whoever, forgetting himself, does good, feels peace of mind and satisfaction in life. The Holy Spirit living in such a soul manifests itself in good deeds, softens hard hearts and evokes mutual love and tenderness. We will reap what we sow. “Blessed is he who thinks about the poor!.. The Lord will preserve him and spare his life; blessed will he be on earth. And You will not give him to the will of his enemies” (Ps. 41:2, 3).

He who has dedicated his life to God and to serving others is connected with Him who has at His disposal all the means and possibilities of the world. His life is connected with the life of God with a golden chain of unchangeable promises, and in moments of need and grief the Lord will not leave him. “My God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). He who shows mercy at the last hour will find protection in the mercy and compassion of the Savior and will be accepted by Him into eternal abodes.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God"

The Jews were so precise in observing the ceremonies concerning purity that the fulfillment of all the regulations was extremely burdensome for them. Their whole life was full of all kinds of rules, restrictions and fear of visible defilement; but they did not pay any attention to the stains that unclean thoughts, self-interest and hostility left in their souls.

Jesus is not talking about outward, ceremonial cleanliness here; He says that it is not a condition for receiving His Kingdom, but indicates that it is necessary to purify the heart. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure” (James 3:17). Nothing unclean will enter the city of God; its future inhabitants must already become pure in heart. He who follows the example of Christ will be far from tactless behavior. obscene expressions and bad thoughts. In the heart where Christ dwells, purity and nobility of thoughts and morals are manifested.

However, Jesus' words: "Blessed are the pure in heart" have a deeper meaning; Those blessed by Christ must not only be pure in the sense of the word as the world understands it, i.e. free from everything carnal, pure from all lust, but also faithful in the deepest intentions of the soul, free from pride and self-love, humble and selfless, like children.

Only equals can be worthy of each other. If our lives are not based on self-sacrificing love, which at the same time is the basis of the character of God, we will not be able to know God. The heart, deceived by Satan, imagines God as some kind of tyrant and unmerciful being. The loving Creator is considered to be the culprit of the selfish nature of man and the devil. "You thought. I am the same as you" (Ps. 49:21). The orders He established are seen as an expression of a despotic, vindictive nature. They look at the Bible in exactly the same way - this treasury of the gifts of His grace. The splendor of its truths, high as the sky and passing into eternity, remains unnoticed. For most people Christ is “like a sprout from dry ground,” and they find in Him no form or greatness that attracts them (Isa. 53.2). When Jesus - God manifested in the flesh - lived among people, the scribes and Pharisees said about Him: “You are a Samaritan, and you have a demon” (John 8:48). Even the disciples, blinded by their selfishness, made no effort to understand Christ, who came to them to reveal to them the love of the Father. Therefore Jesus was alone among people; only in heaven was He fully understood.

When Jesus comes in glory, the wicked will not be able to bear His gaze; the light of His appearance, which is life for those who love Him, will become death to those who reject Christ. His coming will be to them like “a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fury of fire (Heb. 10:27). They will cry out at His appearing, begging to be hidden from the presence of Him who died for their redemption.

The situation is completely different with those whose hearts have been cleansed by the indwelling Holy Spirit; they have changed a lot since they came to know God. The Lord showed His glory to Moses when he was hiding in the gorge; The love and greatness of God will be revealed to us if we are hidden in Jesus Christ.

Already now by faith we see Him: in our daily experiences we recognize His mercy, His kindness and compassion for us. We know the character of the Father through His Only Begotten Son; The Holy Spirit reveals to our mind and heart the truth about God and the One He has sent. The pure in heart enter into a new relationship with God as their Savior, and, recognizing the purity and beauty of His character, they strive to reflect His image in themselves. They recognize Him as a Father willing to embrace His repentant son, and their hearts are filled with indescribable joy and gratitude.

The pure in heart recognize their Creator in the works of His hands, in the beauty of nature and the entire universe; They read even more clearly about the revelation of His mercy and grace in the Holy Scriptures. Truths hidden from the wise and prudent are revealed to the simple. Beautiful, ennobling truths, not recognized by the wise of this world, are constantly revealed to those who, with childlike trustfulness, strive to know the will of God and fulfill it. By learning the truth, we become partners in the divine nature.

Already here on earth, the pure in heart live as if in the constant presence of God, and in the future, eternal life they will see God face to face, like Adam, when he communicated with God in the Garden of Eden, talking with Him. “Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12).

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God"

The mission of Christ as the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6) was to return to heaven and earth the world lost through the Fall. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:5). Whoever decides to renounce sin and open his heart to the love of Christ becomes a participant in the heavenly world.

There is no other source of peace besides Christ. The grace of Jesus, received in the heart, drowns out the voice of enmity and strife in it and fills the soul with love. Anyone who lives in peace with God and neighbor cannot be unhappy. There is no envy in his heart, no place for anger and suspicion, not even a shadow of hatred. Everyone who agrees with the requirements of God will feel the effect of heavenly peace and will spread its beneficial influence to others. Like dew, the spirit of peace will descend on hearts weary and tired of the worldly bustle.

Followers of Jesus are sent into the world with a message of peace. The one who, without realizing it, spreads the love of Christ around himself through his quiet pious life, who by word and deed encourages another to renounce sin and completely give his heart to God, is truly a peacemaker.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” The spirit of peace testifies to their unity with heaven, and the breath of Christ surrounds them; the wholesome influence of their whole being, their pleasant disposition, tells the world that they are true children of God, who are in fellowship with Jesus. “Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His,” but “as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Rom. 8:9, 14).

“And the remnant of Jacob among many nations shall be as dew from the Lord, as rain upon the grass, and they will not depend on man, nor rely on the sons of Adam” (Micah 5:7).

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"

Jesus does not give His followers hope for earthly riches and glory or for a life free from all kinds of trials, but points out to them the advantage of walking with Him along the path of renunciation and hardship and calls on them to accept all the ridicule and insults from a world that does not recognize their.

He, who came to redeem the lost world, was opposed by all the combined forces of the enemy of God and man. An insidious conspiracy of evil people and angels was directed against the Prince of Peace. His every word, every action testified to the mercy of God; but what so distinguished Him from the world only aroused even greater enmity. He did not make concessions to any human inclinations and thereby aroused enmity and hatred against Himself. The same thing happens to everyone who wants to live godly in Christ Jesus. A constant irreconcilable struggle takes place between righteousness and sin, love and hate, truth and falsehood. He who demonstrates the love of Christ in his life, its beauty and holiness, takes away from Satan his subjects and sets up the prince of darkness against himself. Reproach and persecution befall everyone who is filled with the Spirit of Christ. Persecution may change in the course of time, but its source and the spirit that produces it will always remain the same that has persecuted God's elect since the days of Abel.

As soon as people begin to live in harmony with God, they immediately notice that the “temptation of the cross” has not ceased. The powers of darkness and evil spirits are armed against those who are obedient to heavenly laws. Therefore persecution, instead of causing sorrow, should cause joy to the disciples of Jesus, since it proves that the latter are following in the footsteps of their Lord. The Lord does not promise His people liberation from persecution, but something much better. He said: “Let your strength be as your days” (Deut. 33:25 - John trans.). “My grace is sufficient for you; for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Anyone who, for the sake of Christ, must go through the fiery trial will be protected by Jesus, like the three faithful youths once in Babylon. He who loves his Savior will be glad to endure insult and reproach with Him on every occasion. Love for the Lord makes suffering for Him pleasant.

At all times, the devil persecuted the children of God, tormented and killed them; but, dying, they remained victorious. In their unwavering loyalty they proved that He who is with them is stronger than Satan. The enemy could tear and destroy the body, but could not touch the life hidden with Christ in God; he could limit the movements of the body with the four walls of the prison, but could not bind the spirit. Despite the darkness of the present, those languishing in prison could see the glory of the future in the distance and exclaim: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

“Our light affliction, which is but a little while, produces an exceeding abundance of eternal glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).

Through suffering and persecution, the greatness and character of God is revealed to His elect. The people, hated and persecuted by the world, are being brought up in the school of Christ: here they walk a narrow path, purified in the crucible of trials. He follows the Lord through conflicts, endures self-denial and experiences bitter disappointments, but thanks to this he recognizes all the evil and bitterness of sin and renounces them. By being a participant in the sufferings of Christ, he will also become a participant in His glory. In a vision, the prophet saw the triumph of the people of God. He says: “And I saw, as it were, a sea of ​​glass mixed with fire; and those who had overcome the beast and his image, the mark of his name, and the number of his name, stood on this sea of ​​glass, holding the harp of God, and sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song Lamb, saying: Great and wonderful are Thy works, O Lord God, Almighty, righteous and true are Thy ways, O King of saints!” (Rev. 15:2,3). "These are not those who came out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are now before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple, and He who sits on the throne will dwell in them" ( Rev. 7:14-15).

"Blessed are you when they revile you... because of Me"

Since his fall, Satan has always worked through deception. Then he misrepresented God, and now he, with the help of his servants, denigrates the children of God. The Savior says: “The slander of those who slander you fall on Me” (Ps. 69:10). In the same way they fall on His disciples.

No man has ever been so cruelly reviled as the Son of Man. He was ridiculed and mocked for His steadfast obedience to the law of God. He was hated without any reason; and yet He stood calmly before His enemies, explaining to them that reproach was part of the inheritance bequeathed to the children of God. He advised His followers to resist the attacks of the enemy and not to lose heart when faced with trials.

Although slander and slander are able to undermine a person’s good reputation, since he is protected by God Himself, they can never tarnish his character. As long as we do not make concessions to sin, no human or satanic force can pollute our soul. A person whose heart is established in the hope of God, in moments of greatest sorrow and disappointment, will remain the same as he was during times of prosperity, when the mercy and blessing of the Lord rested on him. His words, his motives, his actions may be misrepresented; but all this does not touch him, since his attention is entirely directed to something better. Like Moses, he endures to the end, for he sees the unseen and looks “not on what is seen, but on what is unseen” (2 Cor. 4:18).

Christ knows when we are misunderstood or misjudged. His children are able to calmly endure and endure everything, no matter how they are persecuted and hated: for there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and those who worship God will be honored by Him before the Angels and before people.

“When they revile you and persecute you,” then “rejoice and be glad,” says Jesus. He advises them to take “as an example of suffering and patience” the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Abel, the first of the descendants of Adam to believe in Christ, died a martyr; Enoch "walked with God," but the world did not understand him; Noah was ridiculed as a fanatic who was making false alarms in vain. "Others experienced reproach and beatings, and chains and prison; were stoned, sawn apart, tortured; died by the sword; wandered in favors and goatskins, enduring shortcomings, sorrows, and bitterness; others were tortured without accepting liberation in order to receive a better resurrection."

At all times, the messengers of God were mocked and persecuted, but it was precisely thanks to persecution that the knowledge of God spread. Every disciple of Christ must join the ranks of fighters for the faith and contribute to His cause, knowing that everything that the enemy does against the truth will serve only for its benefit. The Lord desires that the truth be brought to the fore and thoroughly examined and discussed, even if this is achieved at the cost of contempt and hatred. The souls of people must be awakened: every manifestation of hostility, every insult, every desire to limit freedom of conscience serves only as a means in the hands of the Lord to awaken people who are still sleeping.

How often is this confirmed in the lives of God’s messengers! When, at the insistence of the Sanhedrin, the noble and eloquent Stephen was stoned, this did not hinder the cause of the Gospel. The heavenly light that overshadowed his face, the divine compassion expressed in his dying prayer, were, as it were, sharp arrows that struck at the hypocrisy of the ministers of the Sanhedrin, and Saul, that persecuting Pharisee, became the chosen vessel of the Lord to proclaim the name of Jesus “before nations and kings.” and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). In his declining years, Paul wrote from prison: “Some, indeed, out of envy and selfish ambition... preach Christ... thinking to increase the burden of my bonds... No matter how they preach Christ, feignedly or sincerely, I rejoice in this too” (Phil. 1:15, 16, 18). Thanks to Paul's imprisonment, the Gospel spread further, and even in the palace of the Roman Caesars souls were won for Jesus. Despite the efforts of the devil to destroy it, the incorruptible seed of the word of God, which abides forever, is sown into the hearts of people; through reproach and persecution of the children of God the name of Jesus is glorified and souls are saved from destruction.

Great will be the reward in heaven for those who, despite reproach and persecution, boldly testified about Christ. At a time when people are looking for earthly blessings, Christ directs their thoughts to heavenly rewards. But He promises it not only in the future life, but assures that it begins here. In ancient times, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said: “I am your shield;

your reward is very great" (Gen. 15:1). This is the reward of all who follow Christ. To know Jehovah, Immanuel, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," in whom "all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily" (Col. . 2:3,9), to know Him, to possess Him, opening your heart to Him, to become more and more like Him, to feel His love and power, to possess the unsearchable riches of Christ and to comprehend more and more “what is the breadth and length and depth, and height, and to understand the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:18,19), - this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their justification from Me, says the Lord" (Isa. 54:17 ).

The text of the song is a very beautiful prayer - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted

Name of the song: Blessed are those who mourn, for you will be comforted

Date added: 08/17/2014 | 19:14:10

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when You come in Your Kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who cry, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blesseds of mercy, for there will be mercy.

Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for these shall be called sons of God.

Blessedly banish the truth for the sake of it,

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile you,

and they are consumed and say all kinds of evil things,

you are lying for my sake.

Rejoice and have fun,

for your reward is abundant in Heaven. In Thy Kingdom Remember us, O Lord,

when Thou comes out in Thy kingdom .

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted TII.

Blessed Krotz, Thou TII inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled TII.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will pardon TII.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called God’s children of TII.

Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the natural, when you revile you,

and izhdenut and rekut is everyone angry verb,

Blessed are those who mourn prayer

Proclaiming the eternal Divine covenants to the people, one day our Lord Jesus Christ, after an all-night solitary prayer, sat on an elevated place and delivered before His disciples and the multitude of people a wonderful teaching, known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” At the beginning of this teaching, the Lord announced to us the Beatitudes. In the light of these commandments, we see the Gospel path to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander Me in every way unrighteously;

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:3-12).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself walked along this path on earth; Countless saints of God, apostles, martyrs, saints, saints, and righteous people passed this way. We must follow this path if we want to justify our high title on earth - the title of Orthodox Christians.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, our Savior! Grant us Your grace to acquire Your eternal Kingdom. Weighed by destinies, for the sake of Your suffering, save, Lord, Himself, as you know. Guide us, Lord, on the true and right path, leading to eternal life and salvation, so that, following this path, we may come to the Kingdom of Heaven, which You have prepared for all who love You and keep Your commandments.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – With these words the Lord began His wonderful Sermon on the Mount.

What beggars is the Lord talking about here, calling them “blessed”?

Beggars are different. and begging in itself is not a virtue. Who are the poor to whom the Kingdom of Heaven is promised? These are the poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit means: not to be arrogant, not to be proud, but to be humble.

You should never consider yourself superior to others. And we will be guilty before God if we do not fulfill the commandments about Christian love for all people, about humility, forbearance, agreeableness and sincerity. The higher the dignity of a person, the greater his adornment is humility.

However, with Christian humility it is necessary to remember one’s dignity. Thus, before ungodly, lawless and sinful people, a true Christian maintains his dignity, so that they see holiness in all his words and deeds. The Lord, after all, said in His Sermon on the Mount: “So let your light shine before people, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Humility does not consist in pleasing everyone, and therefore even sinners, but in never forgetting that all people are equal before God and we have nothing to be proud of.

On earth, wherever you look, there is sorrow everywhere, tears everywhere. There, elderly parents cry over the corpse of their last son; There, an inconsolable widow and her little orphans shed tears on the grave mound, under which rests the ashes of a good husband and father. And there mothers or wives cry about their sons and husbands, that they are angry, rude, drunkards. It is simply impossible to list all the losses, illnesses, and anger that cause bitter tears to be shed. Some people cry because they are hungry. He cries with regret that he played truant and drank away his property. Another is crying because he is deprived of his freedom and is being held in prison for theft, robbery, deception, etc. Is it about these people that the Savior says that they are blessed, for they will be comforted? – No, without a doubt not about them. There are many crying people in the world. But not everyone who weeps is blessed.

Those who cry who themselves are the cause of their misfortunes are unworthy of bliss. Those who cry inconsolably when exposed to any misfortune cannot be called blessed, for in these cases excessive and inconsolable crying speaks of a lack of faith in God and trust in Him.

Blessed are those who weep who are completely different. From the Gospel Gospel we know that the harlot wept, and Peter wept too. What were they crying about? About your sins!

Anna, the mother of the prophet Samuel, stood in front of the temple of God (the Old Testament tabernacle) and wept. What was the reason for her crying? – Her fervent heartfelt prayer. Such mourners will be comforted. And Jesus Christ speaks about such mourners who unjustly endure torment, persecution, need, who are subjected to hatred and slander of people for their good deeds, for their sincere attitude towards them. Such people find great consolation in the words of the Savior: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Meek people are usually kind to everyone. They are always quiet, modest, friendly; they do not fight, they avoid quarrels, in happiness they are not exalted, in misfortune they do not lose heart and do not complain; in honor and power - they do not oppress subordinates, in subordination to superiors they are respectful and obedient. Is it possible not to love them? God Himself says in the prophet: “Whom will I look upon: the humble and contrite in spirit, and the one who trembles at My word.” (Isa. 66:2).

People love a meek person, and the Lord God loves him too. He who recognizes every person as his neighbor, who never opens his mouth to unclean words, who knows how to forgive insults, and with his forbearance defeats his enemies, people usually call him a good person, help him in his affairs, and in unfortunate cases they rush to him. by using. Therefore, it always happens that a meek person is more likely to increase his goodness than an obstinate, vengeful, quarrelsome person.

How can we learn meekness? “Learn from Me,” says our Lord Jesus Christ, “I am meek” (Matthew 11:29).

History shows us that in the first centuries of Christianity, when believers imitated their Lord and Savior in everything, and their every word and deed breathed purity, holiness and honesty, pagans and unbelievers recognized a Christian among a crowd of thousands of people by his face, by his gait and speeches. And all this contributed to the spread of the faith of Christ among the peoples of the earth, for many called Christians saints.

St. ap. Paul writes: “Let your meekness be known to all men” (Phil. 4:5).

Unfortunately, one cannot say about the Christians of our time what was said about the Christians of the first centuries. Oh, let us be meek.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, have experienced the painful state of hunger and thirst. “At least a piece of bread,” says the hungry one; “Just a drop of water,” cries the thirsty one.

But there is another kind of hunger and thirst: hunger and thirst for spiritual justification, holiness, bliss, and righteousness.

A person has a body and a soul. The body is nourished by bread and water. The soul is nourished by prayer, the word of God and the Most Pure Mysteries. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,” Christ said to the tempter in the desert (Matthew 4:4). “Whoever drinks the water that I give him will never thirst,” the Lord said to the Samaritan woman, meaning here by water His saving teaching (John 4:14). It is this spiritual food and spiritual drink that we must seek and desire with all our souls, just as a hungry person seeks bread and a thirsty person asks for water.

Those who hunger and thirst for truth desire justification not only for themselves, but also for their neighbors. “I’m thirsty!” - Christ proclaimed in his dying moments on the cross. I thirst for the redemption and justification of people - that’s what this cry of the Savior means.

So, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who seek righteousness for themselves as food for eternal life, for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Truth is a collection of virtues. This is why saints are called righteous, because their whole life was holy and righteous.

Truth comes from the Lord God, and lies and untruth come from the evil spirit. He who loves truth serves God, and he who lives in untruth serves the evil spirit.

And since by truth we must also understand justice, then those who cannot tolerate deception and injustice in relation to their neighbors can also be called hungry for truth. Truly blessed is such a person with the Lord God!

He who lives by righteousness in the world, who hungers and thirsts for truth, who stands for truth with all his soul and protects his neighbors from injustice, will undoubtedly receive a reward from God - eternal bliss!

Satisfaction is promised to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They will be satisfied while still here on earth, as much as is possible for a person. But complete saturation will come there, in heaven, when we see God face to face.

Oh Lord, God! Arouse in all of us hunger and thirst for Your heavenly blessings and do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom.

The merciful, to whom the Lord promises mercy, are those who enter into the situation of the unfortunate and needy, help them in their needs and ease their lot as best they can.

And how many are there who do not have the necessary knowledge about religion, about God, who do not know the faith and duties of Christians?! To teach such truth and goodness is a great mercy.

A person who has found the truth for himself cannot live for himself. Who says: “Lord! Lord!”, but is deaf to the works of Christ, he is a liar. He who has found the Lord is in a hurry to share his happiness with his neighbor. He is merciful.

To be merciful means to rush to the aid of every perishing soul - to help, to console, to pray. Giving your prayer to your neighbor is the highest form of mercy. To give a hand of Christian help to anyone who is ready to slip, to forgive Brahm their offenses, this is the fruit of merciful prayer.

It goes without saying that he who does deeds of spiritual mercy will not leave the hungry without bread or the naked without clothing. In a word, mercy is the provision of good deeds to one’s neighbor both in his physical and spiritual life. This is the holy love that our Lord and Savior commanded us.

Love does not leave your neighbor in any condition. She shares both his joys and his sorrows.

The Church of Christ teaches us that mercy is also the remembrance of the dead.

The merciful will themselves receive mercy. Jesus Christ says that for a cup of cold water we will be rewarded in heaven (Matt. 10:42; Mark 9:41), especially for a piece of bread, for a kind word and good advice.

Let us, at the call of the Savior, be merciful, just as our Heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). Our mercy will attract God's mercy to us.

To achieve eternal bliss, it is necessary to maintain purity of heart.

In order to achieve purity and holiness, a person has to work hard - it is necessary, by fighting the passions and slander of the enemy, to keep himself from bad thoughts, desires and deeds.

The heart is the root of all human desires and activities; Our happiness or unhappiness, bliss or torment depends on the direction of the heart. What a person strives for with his heart is the purpose of life. “For where our treasure is, there will your heart be also,” says the Lord (Matthew 6:21).

There are people in the world with kind, sincere, pure hearts, and there are people with unkind, unclean, cruel hearts. A lot, of course, depends on nature, and a lot on a person’s upbringing. If the father and mother are greedy, evil, heartless, then the children already bring everything evil into the world with them and, with their mother’s milk, inherit an unkind nature from their parents. And if such children do not fall under holy influence from childhood, do not see good, instructive examples of a good life, then they will grow up to be people with unclean, evil hearts who will be enemies of all that is holy; they will have unkind thoughts in their heads, bad words on their tongues, and sinful deeds. And vice versa: where parents are God-fearing, pious, merciful, and provide help to everyone according to their strength and capabilities; where there is never any malice or anger in the house, no idle talk or vile words are heard, but there is agreement and pure Christian conversations in everything - there children are raised with a pure heart.

Happy are all those whose hearts are innocent, not spoiled by sinful, impure thoughts and feelings, who strive for God, love His holy law and all their neighbors, like little children, alien to insincerity and enmity. Truly, they will see God, they will see their salvation in God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Where can we get purity of heart so that we too can inherit bliss? The Fathers of the Church teach that purity of the heart is acquired by cleansing it from all mental and physical defilement. The means for this can be: prayer, heartfelt contrition in the sacrament of Repentance, St. Communion, constant observation of oneself and abstinence from evil thoughts and deeds. You should never listen to vile speeches, not allow unclean feelings and lusts to reach your heart, always lift up your heart to the Lord God, always be ready for prayer, for works of mercy, for all that is holy.

He who has a pure, innocent heart, who loves his neighbor, can hope that he will see God, i.e. inherits the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Blessed are the peacemakers. Who are these peacemakers? These are those who restrain themselves from anger, from quarreling and from insulting others, and try to stop the disagreements and discord that arise by yielding and apologizing; These are those who endure annoyances generously and try to calm those at war with meek and friendly treatment.

The Lord God, as our Heavenly Father, rejoices if people love each other like brothers, if nations help each other in good deeds, just as every father is consoled when all his children sincerely love each other and help each other from the heart. Therefore, Jesus Christ says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God,” i.e. happy are those who create peace and harmony between people, between nations, for they will be called sons of God, doing the will of God, for God loves peace and harmony.

Indeed, the world, i.e. silence and tranquility between people is true well-being on earth. A family prospers if there is harmony and peace in it. A society prospers if all residents unanimously work for its benefit, in complete obedience to their superiors.

From here comes such a science for us, so that we try in every possible way to eliminate disagreement, hatred, and quarrel. If we manage to establish peace between warring parties, then this is a great merit before God: in the Kingdom of Heaven we will be called sons of God.

Both individuals and entire nations attack each other out of greed and pride. This is where wars and the innumerable disasters associated with them are born. Where there is war, there is fire and devastation, there are corpses of the dead and crippled, there are the tears of widows and orphans, there hunger follows in its wake. Man turns into a beast and mercilessly destroys the lives of other people and the long-lasting work of the human mind and human hands. And the more blood he sheds, the more good he destroys, the more he boasts of his courage and bravery. Oh, that the Lord would deliver us from war, so that we would never see or hear about it again! This is what we pray in our churches during our public services: “For the peace of the whole world.” It is not those rulers of nations who are glorious and deserve the gratitude of their descendants, who have shed a lot of blood, but those who know how to maintain peace themselves avoid war and keep others from it and thus become peacemakers.

May God grant that eternal peace be established between all nations, that people in wars do not kill and maim each other, that they do not ruin their land and their fortunes, and that the money that goes to maintaining a countless number of soldiers, for weapons, is used for education , to improve the economy, trade, industry and everything that constitutes the good and glory of people and nations!

The Lord, pleasing the peacemakers, inspires us all to seek peace and adhere to it. “Strive to have peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord,” we read in the Word of God (Heb. 12:14). “For God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against people, and gave it the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19).

Therefore, each of us is obliged to acquire a peaceful spirit, that is, to bring ourselves into such a state that our spirit is not disturbed by anything. By pacifying ourselves, we must also be peacemakers to our neighbors. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

In ancient times there lived patriarchs who taught the people the truth of God, there lived prophets and teachers who were zealous for holy life, but they were little listened to and they had more enemies than friends and like-minded people.

The Lord Jesus Christ appeared on earth with His teaching about the truth of God, but not everyone believed in Him; many hated His truth and brought Him Himself to crucifixion.

Jesus Christ predicted the same fate for His disciples and apostles, and for all His faithful followers (see John 15:18-21; 16:1-3).

In his second letter to Timothy, St. ap. Paul writes: “And all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution; but evil people and deceivers will prosper in evil, deceiving and being deceived” (3, 12-13).

The first Christians were subjected to widespread persecution and torture. It was enough that you believe in Christ - for this alone you are guilty of death. At this time there were many martyrs whom the Church reveres as saints. The believers of those times were not afraid of persecution, and when it was necessary to confess Christ, they were not afraid of torment. Others looked at their torment and death, and themselves were strengthened in the faith of Christ, so that the number of confessors grew. Such is the power of the Savior’s words: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The martyrs went to their deaths because they believed that they were suffering for the truth, and for this the Lord promised an eternal reward.

And in our time there are martyrs for the truth. These are, first of all, all pious Christians, for, as St. ap. Paul, “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

What is the bliss of the persecuted and suffering? What is the reward for tribulation for the righteous and pious?

The righteous and pious are consoled in the midst of suffering itself: their conscience is bright, their soul is pure, their heart is calm, their hope for heavenly rewards is undoubted.

Those persecuted for the sake of righteousness and those who suffer, the righteous and pious, reign forever with Christ in heaven: “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” said the Savior.

The persecuted righteous and pious passion-bearers will not only enjoy bliss in the Heavenly Kingdom, like the poor in spirit, but will also share it with Christ. Just as they share earthly suffering with Christ, so they will share heavenly glory with Him (see Luke 22:28-30; 1 Peter 4:13; Rev. 3:21).

O Christian! Love truth and maintain piety!

“Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me; rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.”

Rejoice and be glad, you who are reviled, persecuted, slandered, suffering and dying for Christ! The righteous Lord determines that you will be blissful in heaven.

So, in the nine Gospel Beatitudes, the Lord Jesus Christ outlined for us the path to eternal bliss.

In order to acquire the wealth of an eternal inheritance in the future life, we must first of all recognize our spiritual poverty, our insignificance and sinfulness before the justice of God and mourn our sins and mistakes with tears of heartfelt contrition; and then - to begin the feat of piety and improvement in good deeds: meekness, truth, mercy, integrity of heart, love of peace, even with the readiness to suffer for the truth and accept the crown of martyrdom.

The path to salvation is varied. Many saints pleased God while living in the world, among their ordinary activities. Some took upon themselves the highest spiritual feat: they renounced the world and spent their lives in desert labors and prayer vigils; others endured voluntary poverty as a result of their vow of non-covetousness, others kept virginity until death, etc. Then, St. The Church represents a countless host of martyrs and confessors of the faith.

Oh, never forget in Christ, brother and sister, that in every rank you can be saved! We should care about only one thing: to remain until the end of our lives worthy of the title of Orthodox Christians!

All the saints were people similar to us in everything, but by incessantly struggling with their passions, killing the “old man” within themselves and creating a new one - “in truth and in the honor of truth,” they reached the heights of spiritual perfection and left in their exploits an inexhaustible source for imitation. The example of the saints should serve as an example for us in our present, sorrowful life.

May the Merciful Lord help us all, through the prayers of His saints, especially our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos, to complete the good course of our lives and achieve the longed-for peace in His eternal Kingdom.

//Used “Spiritual Conversation” magazines for 1913//

God gave people the Ten Commandments back in Old Testament times. They were given in order to protect people from evil, to warn about the danger that sin brings. The Lord Jesus Christ established the New Testament, gave us the Gospel law, the basis of which is love: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.(John 13:34) and holiness: be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect(Mt 5:48). The Savior did not abolish the observance of the Ten Commandments, but elevated people to the highest level of spiritual life. In the Sermon on the Mount, talking about how a Christian should build his life, the Savior gives nine beatitudes. These commandments no longer speak of the prohibition of sin, but of Christian perfection. They tell how to achieve bliss, what virtues bring a person closer to God, for only in Him can a person find true joy. The Beatitudes not only do not cancel the Ten Commandments of the Law of God, but wisely complement them. It is not enough simply not to commit a sin or to expel it from our soul by repenting of it. No, we need to have in our souls the virtues that are opposite to sins. It is not enough not to do evil, you must do good. Sins create a wall between us and God; when the wall is destroyed, we begin to see God, but only a moral Christian life can bring us closer to Him.

Here are the nine commandments that the Savior gave us as a guide to Christian deed:

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
9. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven: just as they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

First commandment

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

What does it mean to be beggars spirit, and why such people are blessed? Saint John Chrysostom says: “What does it mean: poor in spirit? Humble and contrite in heart.

He called the soul and disposition of man Spirit.<...>Why didn't He say: humble, but said beggars? Because the latter is more expressive than the former; He calls here poor those who fear and tremble at the commandments of God, whom God also calls through the prophet Isaiah pleasing to Himself, saying: to whom will I look: to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and to him who trembles at My word?(Isaiah 66:2)” (“Conversations on St. Matthew the Evangelist.” 25.2). Moral antipode poor in spirit is a proud man who considers himself spiritually rich.

Spiritual poverty means humility, seeing your true state. Just as an ordinary beggar has nothing of his own, but dresses in what is given and eats alms, so we must realize: everything we have we receive from God. This is not ours, we are only stewards of the property that the Lord has given us. He gave it so that it would serve the salvation of our soul. You can not be a poor person, but you can be poor in spirit, humbly accept what God gives us and use it to serve the Lord and people. Everything is from God. Not only material wealth, but also health, talents, abilities, life itself - all this is exclusively a gift from God, for which we must thank Him. You can't do anything without Me(John 15:5), the Lord tells us. The fight against sins and the acquisition of good deeds are impossible without humility. We do all this only with the help of God.

It is promised to the poor in spirit, to the humble in wisdom Kingdom of heaven. People who know that everything they have is not their merit, but the gift of God, which needs to be increased for the salvation of the soul, will perceive everything sent as a means of achieving the Kingdom of Heaven.

Second Commandment

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are those who mourn. Crying can be caused by completely different reasons, but not all crying is a virtue. The commandment to mourn means repentant crying for one’s sins. Repentance is so important because without it it is impossible to get closer to God. Sins prevent us from doing this. The first commandment of humility already leads us to repentance, lays the foundation for spiritual life, for only a person who feels his weakness and poverty before the Heavenly Father can realize his sins and repent of them. The Gospel prodigal son returns to the Father's house, and, of course, the Lord will accept everyone who comes to Him and wipe away every tear from his eyes. Therefore, “blessed are those who mourn (for sins), for they will be comforted(emphasis added. - Auto.)". Every person has sins, without sin there is only God, but we have been given the greatest gift from God - repentance, the opportunity to return to God, ask Him for forgiveness. It was not for nothing that the Holy Fathers called repentance the second baptism, where we wash away our sins not with water, but with tears.

Blessed tears can also be called tears of compassion, empathy for our neighbors, when we are imbued with their grief and try to help them in any way we can.

Third Commandment

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are the meek. Meekness is a peaceful, calm, quiet spirit that a person has acquired in his heart. This is submission to the will of God and the virtue of peace in the soul and peace with others. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light(Matthew 11:29-30), the Savior teaches us. He was submissive in everything to the will of the Heavenly Father, He served people and accepted suffering with meekness. He who has taken upon himself the good yoke of Christ, who follows His path, who seeks humility, meekness, and love, will find peace and tranquility for his soul both in this earthly life and in the life of the next century. Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria writes: “Some by the word earth mean spiritual land, that is, heaven, but you also mean this earth. Since the meek are usually considered despicable and devoid of importance, He says that they primarily have everything.” Meek and humble Christians, without war, fire or sword, despite terrible persecution from the pagans, were able to convert the entire vast Roman Empire to the true faith.

The great Russian saint, Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, said: “Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved.” He himself fully acquired this peaceful spirit, greeting everyone who came to him with the words: “My joy, Christ is risen!” There is an episode from his life when robbers came to his forest cell, wanting to rob the elder, thinking that the visitors were bringing him a lot of money. Saint Seraphim was chopping wood in the forest at that time and stood with an ax in his hands. Having weapons and possessing great physical strength, he did not want to offer resistance to those who came. He placed the ax on the ground and folded his arms across his chest. The villains grabbed an ax and brutally beat the old man with its butt, breaking his head and breaking his bones. Not finding the money, they fled. The Monk Seraphim barely made it to the monastery. He was ill for a long time and remained bent over until the end of his days. When the robbers were caught, he not only forgave them, but also asked to be released, saying that if this was not done, he would leave the monastery. This is how amazingly meek this man was.

Fourth Commandment

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

There are different ways to thirst and seek the truth. There are certain people who can be called truth-seekers: they are constantly indignant at the existing order, seek justice everywhere and write complaints, and come into conflict with many. But this commandment is not talking about them. This means a completely different truth.

It is said that one should desire truth as food and drink: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. That is, very much like a hungry and thirsty person endures suffering until his needs are satisfied. What truth is being said here? About the highest, Divine Truth. A the highest Truth, Truth is Christ. I am the way and the truth and the life(John 14:6), He says about Himself. Therefore, a Christian must seek the true meaning of life in God. In Him alone is the true source of living water and Divine Bread, which is His Body.

The Lord left us the word of God, which sets forth the Divine teaching, the truth of God. He created the Church and put into it everything necessary for salvation. The Church is also the bearer of truth and correct knowledge about God, the world and man. This is the truth that every Christian should thirst for, reading the Holy Scriptures and being edified by the works of the Fathers of the Church.

Those who are zealous about prayer, about doing good deeds, about saturating themselves with the word of God, truly “thirst for righteousness” and, of course, will receive saturation from the ever-flowing Source - our Savior - both in this century and in the future.

Fifth Commandment

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Mercy, mercy- these are acts of love towards others. In these virtues we imitate God Himself: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful(Luke 6:36). God sends His mercies and gifts to both righteous and unrighteous, sinful people. He rejoices about one sinner who repents, rather than about ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent(Luke 15:7).

And he teaches us all the same selfless love, so that we do acts of mercy not for the sake of reward, not expecting to receive something in return, but out of love for the person himself, fulfilling the commandment of God.

By doing good deeds to people, as creation, the image of God, we thereby bring service to God Himself. The Gospel gives an image of the Last Judgment, when the Lord will separate the righteous from the sinners and say to the righteous: Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you accepted Me; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him: Lord! when did we see you hungry and feed you? or to the thirsty and gave them something to drink? when did we see you as a stranger and accept you? or naked and clothed? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? And the King will answer them: Truly I say to you, just as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.(Mt 25:34-40). Therefore it is said that " gracious themselves will be pardoned" And on the contrary, those who did not do good deeds will have nothing to justify themselves at God’s judgment, as stated in the same parable about the Last Judgment.

Sixth Commandment

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the pure in heart, that is, pure in soul and mind from sinful thoughts and desires. It is important not only to avoid committing a sin in a visible way, but also to refrain from thinking about it, because any sin begins with a thought, and only then materializes into action. From the heart of man come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy.(Matthew 15:19), says the word of God. Not only bodily impurity is a sin, but first of all impurity of the soul, spiritual defilement. A person may not take anyone’s life, but burn with hatred for people and wish them death. Thus, he will destroy his own soul, and subsequently may even go as far as murder. Therefore, the Apostle John the Theologian warns: Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer(1 John 3:15). A person who has an unclean soul and unclean thoughts is a potential committer of already visible sins.

If your eye is pure, then your whole body will be bright; if your eye is evil, then your whole body will be dark(Mt 6:22-23). These words of Jesus Christ are spoken about the purity of the heart and soul. A clear eye is sincerity, purity, holiness of thoughts and intentions, and these intentions lead to good deeds. And vice versa: where the eye and heart are blinded, dark thoughts reign, which will later become dark deeds. Only a person with a pure soul and pure thoughts can approach God, see His. God is seen not with bodily eyes, but with the spiritual vision of a pure soul and heart. If this organ of spiritual vision is clouded, spoiled by sin, a person will not see the Lord. Therefore, you need to refrain from unclean, sinful, evil thoughts, drive them away as if they were coming from the enemy, and cultivate bright, kind thoughts in your soul. These thoughts are cultivated by prayer, faith and hope in God, love for Him, for people and for every creation of God.

Seventh Commandment

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are the peacemakers... The commandment to have peace with people and to reconcile those at war is placed very highly in the Gospel. Such people are called children, sons of God. Why? We are all children of God, his creations. There is nothing more pleasant for a father and mother when he knows that his children live in peace, love and harmony among themselves: How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together!(Ps 133:1). And vice versa, how sad it is for a father and mother to see quarrels, strife and enmity between children; at the sight of all this, the parents’ hearts seem to bleed! If peace and good relationships between children please even earthly parents, all the more does our Heavenly Father need us to live in peace. And a person who keeps peace in the family, with people, reconciles those at war, is pleasing and pleasing to God. Not only does such a person receive joy, tranquility, happiness and blessing from God here on earth, he gains peace in his soul and peace with his neighbors, but he will undoubtedly receive a reward in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Peacemakers will also be called “sons of God” because in their feat they are likened to the Son of God Himself, Christ the Savior, who reconciled people with God, restored the connection that was destroyed by sins and the falling away of humanity from God.

Eighth Commandment

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who are exiled for the sake of truth. The search for Truth, Divine Truth has already been discussed in the fourth beatitude. We remember that Truth is Christ Himself. It is also called Sun of truth. It is about oppression and persecution for the truth of God that this commandment speaks of. The path of a Christian is always the path of a warrior of Christ. The path is complex, difficult, narrow: narrow is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life(Mt 7:14). But this is the only road leading to salvation; we are not given any other way. Of course, living in a raging world that is often very hostile to Christianity is difficult. Even if there is no persecution or oppression for faith, simply living as a Christian, fulfilling God’s commandments, working for God and others is very difficult. It is much easier to live “like everyone else” and “take everything from life.” But we know that this is the path that leads to destruction: wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction(Mt 7:13). And the fact that so many people are following in this direction should not confuse us. A Christian is always different, not like everyone else. “Try to live not as everyone else lives, but as God commands, because... the world lies in evil.” - says the Monk Barsanuphius of Optina. It doesn’t matter if we are persecuted here on earth for our life and faith, because our fatherland is not on earth, but in heaven, with God. Therefore, in this commandment the Lord promises to those persecuted for the sake of righteousness Kingdom of heaven.

Ninth Commandment

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven: just as they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The continuation of the eighth commandment, which speaks of oppression for the truth of God and Christian life, is the last commandment of beatitude. The Lord promises a blessed life to all those persecuted for their faith.

Here it is said about the highest manifestation of love for God - about the readiness to give one’s life for Christ, for one’s faith in Him. This feat is called martyrdom. This path is the highest, it has great reward. This path was indicated by the Savior Himself. He endured persecution, torment, cruel torture and painful death, thereby giving an example to all His followers and strengthening them in their readiness to suffer for Him, even to the point of blood and death, as He once suffered for all of us.

We know that the Church stands on the blood and steadfastness of the martyrs. They defeated the pagan, hostile world, giving their lives and laying them at the foundation of the Church.

But the enemy of the human race does not calm down and constantly initiates new persecutions against Christians. And when the Antichrist comes to power, he will also persecute and persecute the disciples of Christ. Therefore, every Christian must be constantly prepared for the feat of confession and martyrdom.

Rules for a happy life White Elena

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"

The mourners we are talking about here are those who sincerely and sincerely mourn over sin. Jesus says: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Me” (John 12:32). Only one who looks at the Savior ascended to the cross is able to recognize all the sinfulness of humanity. He will understand that the sins of people are the cause of the suffering and death on the cross of the Lord of glory; he will understand that his life, despite Christ's tender love for him, is a constant expression of gratitude and indignation. He will understand that he has rejected his best Friend, despised the most precious heavenly gift; that by his actions he again crucified the Son of God, again pierced the wounded heart of the Savior. Now he cries in anguish and heartfelt sadness, because a wide and deep dark abyss separates him from God.

Such mourners will be comforted. The Lord reveals our guilt to us so that we can come to Him and find in Him liberation from the bonds of sin and rejoice in the freedom of true children of God. Only with sincere repentance in our hearts can we approach the foot of the cross and here forever lay aside all sorrows and suffering.

The Savior’s words are, as it were, a message of consolation to all those who grieve and cry. We know that no sorrow is accidental: “For He (the Lord) does not punish and grieve the sons of men according to the counsel of His heart” (Lamentations Jeremiah 3:33). If He allows misfortunes, He does so for “our benefit, that we may share in His holiness” (Heb. 12:10). Every misfortune and grief, no matter how heavy and bitter it may seem, will always serve as a blessing to those who endure it with faith. A heavy blow, which in one minute turns all earthly joys into nothing, can turn our gaze to heaven. Many people would never have known the Lord if grief had not prompted them to seek consolation from Him.

The difficult experiences of life are divine instruments through which He cleanses our character from imperfections and roughness and polishes it like a stone. Hewing, sculpting, grinding and polishing are painful. But living stones thus processed become fit to take their appointed place in the heavenly temple. The Lord does not spend so much labor and care on useless material; only His precious stones are cut according to their destination.

The Lord willingly helps everyone who trusts in Him, and those who are faithful to Him will win the greatest victories, comprehend the most precious truths, and have wonderful experiences.

The Heavenly Father never leaves those who cry and are dejected unattended. When David went up the Mount of Olives, weeping and covering his face as a sign of sorrow (2 Samuel 15:30), the Lord looked at him with compassion. David was dressed in mourning clothes, his conscience did not give him peace. His appearance showed his depressed state. In contrition of heart, he told God about his situation with tears, and the Lord did not abandon His servant. Never before had David been so dear to the infinitely loving Father as in these hours when he fled, saving his soul from enemies incited to revolt by his own son. The Lord says: “Those whom I love, I rebuke and punish. Therefore, be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19). Christ encourages the repentant heart and purifies the yearning soul until it becomes His abode.

However, many of us become like Jacob in times of distress. We think that disasters come from the enemy, and we fight against them in ignorance until our strength is exhausted and we are left without consolation and relief. Only at dawn did Jacob, thanks to a divine touch, recognize the Angel of the Covenant with whom he had been wrestling, and helpless he fell to His infinitely loving breast to receive the blessing that his soul so dearly desired. We must also learn to consider suffering as blessings, not to neglect God's punishments, and not to lose heart when He punishes us. “Blessed is the man whom God admonishes, and therefore do not reject the punishment of the Almighty... He inflicts wounds, and He Himself binds them; He strikes, and His hands heal. In six troubles he will save you, and in the seventh evil will not touch you” (Job 5:17-19). Jesus is close to every oppressed and sick person, ready to help him and heal him. The awareness of His presence eases our pain, our sorrow and our suffering.

The Lord does not want us to suffer in silence and be broken-hearted; on the contrary, He wants us to look up to Him and see His face shining with love. While blessing, the Savior stands next to many people whose eyes are so clouded with tears that they do not recognize Him. He wants to take us by the hand and lead us if we, like children, trust Him and look to Him with faith. His heart is always open to our grief, to our suffering and worries; He always surrounds us with His everlasting love and mercy. Our heart can rest in Him, day and night we can meditate on His love. He lifts our soul above daily sorrow and suffering and leads it into His Kingdom of peace.

Think about this, children of suffering and tears, and rejoice in hope. “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

Blessed are also those who weep with Christ out of a feeling of compassion for a sinful world. Such sadness is not associated with the slightest thought about one’s own self. Jesus is the “Man of Sorrows”; He suffered indescribable heartache. His soul was wounded by the crimes of mankind. To alleviate the suffering of people, to meet their needs, He acted selflessly; He felt extremely sorry for the crowd when He saw that they refused to come to Him to receive eternal life. All true followers of Christ will also have similar feelings. Once they feel His love, they will work with Him to save the lost. They will become partakers of the sufferings of Christ and His coming glory. Being united with Him in work, united in sorrow and suffering, they will become participants in His joy.

Jesus went through suffering and thereby became able to comfort others; He endured all human sorrows, fear and pain, “and just as He Himself suffered, being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted” (Isa. 63:9; Heb. 2:18). This help can be used by everyone who shared His suffering. “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also abounds through Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5). The Lord shows special mercy to those who suffer and cry, which softens hearts and saves souls. His love paves the way to wounded and tormented hearts and becomes a sacred balm for the grieving. “The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us...in all affliction with the comfort with which God comforts us” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”