1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (St.Matt. 5:3)

The poor in spirit are those who realize what they are and that all the good things they have, are the free gifts from God, given to them in spite of their unworthiness and sinfulness. They also know that all the good things they have received, are not given to them to be used for their own selfish ends, but for the common good of all mankind. Such people are blessed, as all heavenly blessings will come upon them.

Poverty in spiritual realm cannot be a blessing in itself. But those who are aware of the fact that they have spiritual deficits, are blessed because they may crave for more spirituality and this can lead to heavenly blessings.

The following verses make it clear that every good thing comes from God. "He Himself gives to all mortals, life and breath, and all things." (Acts 17:25). "Every generous act of giving with every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." (St.James 1:17). "In Him, we live, move and have our being." (Acts 17:28). Even the desire to do good comes from God. "It is God who is at work in You, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Phil 2:13)

With God, we can do anything, we have evrything, and we are everything. Without God, we can not do anything, we have nothing and we are nothing. This is poorty in spirit. Following are the examples of those who were poor in spirit:

1. David the King, in all his humility and devotion to God, put on a linen ephod and danced before the Lord, when the ark of the Lord was taken in procession, from the Obed-Edom to the city of David (II Sam 6:14)

2. When John the Baptist was asked who he was, he emphatically replied that he was not Messiah. When he was asked whether he is Elijah, he replied, "I am not". "Are you the prophet", the deputation that came to him, asked. The reply again was "no". He then continued to say, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make the way of the Lord." (St.John 1:19-23)

3. When Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist said, what a great honor it was that the mother of the Lord should visit her, St.Mary humbled herself and praised God for having looked upon her lowly estate. (St.Luke 1:43, 46-48)

4. When St.Peter healed a forty-year old man born lame, people were wonder-struck. St.Peter said, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety, we had made him walk?" (Acts 3:12). "And by faith in His name, His name itself, had made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith in Jesus had given him the perfect health, in the presence of all of you" (Acts 3:16)

5. St.Paul spoke of himself that it was God's grace that did everything in him. "By the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is in me," (1 Cor. 15:10). He asks "What have you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7) He also says "I am do all things in him who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13). All divine virtues come from this virtue of humility. For example, gratitude to God, love of God and His children, generosity, forgiveness, humilty, respect and submission. Such people will be free from pride, jealousy and selfishness. Hence some people give a new version to this verse "How blessed are the poor in spirit; for, theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Prayer: Help us O'Lord, to see our nothingness and your blessings in every one, so that we may love you and respect one another.

2. Blessed are those who have the conviction that the glory of their good deeds goes totally to God; for they rejoice in the Lord to the full.

Since they do not claim any share in the glory of their good deeds, they will not desire any recognition from people and will not seek any publicity. "Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to your name, give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfullness" (Ps. 115:1) Our Lord says, "So whenever you give alms, do not sound trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truely I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you receive alms do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing; so that your alms may be done in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (St.Matt. 6:2-4)

Prayer: Help us O' Lord to understand that all glory is due to you only, and to praise you whenever we are praised.

3."Blessed are pure in heart; for they shall see God." (St.Matt. 5:8) They will have peace and power.

Purity in heart means unadultrated love of God. Love of God shall not be mixed with love of money, wordly pleasure and fame. Our Lord said, " Who ever comes to me and does not hate father, mother, wife, cannot be my desciple. Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me, can not be my disciple." (St.Luke 14:26-27). St.James had the same meaning in mind when he said, "purify your hearts, you double minded" (St.James. 4:8)

The motive behind those who accept monasticism is the desire to have personal loyalty and love of God.

Prayer: Grant us O Lord the purity of heart, so that our love for you may be free from all other love.

4.Blessed are those who give primary importance to the glory of God in their personal lives; for all their needs will be satisfied.

Our Lord says, "First strive for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things (what to eat, what to drink and what to wear) will be given to you as well". (St.Matt. 6:33) This is the promise of our Lord and we should have faith in His help. Again our Lord says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (St.Matt. 24:35) Many are blessed by God when they seek the glory of God.

Prayer: O Lord, help us to work for you and your kingdom, and give second place to everything else.

15. Blessed are those who can see God in others and in themselves; for they can love and respect others and have self-respect.

Every one is created in the image of God and has infinite potentialities. Hence we have to love and respect people as God's own children.

St.Paul says, "Whatever your tasks, work heartily as serving the Lord and no men." (Col. 3:23) Respecting others as if God were in their place is the highest respect we can think of. If we try to give this kind of respect, we will be respected back in a similar way. This mutual respect is to be maintained in all circles. This will solve all problems in families and other societies.

The Hindu custom of greeting with folded hands and bowing down saying "namaste", is a way of worshipping God in the other person. This spirit of respect is to be maintained in all our dealings. Self-respect also will help us to respect others. Then, earth will become a heaven.

Prayer: O Lord, help us to respect one another, as your own children.

16. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness by identifying themselves with the needy; for they shall be filled." (St. Matt. 5:6)

The intensity of one's joy in the welfare of others, depends on the intensity of one's love for them. Our Lord's whole life was an example for whole-hearted love. Bon Hoeffer, the great German theologian spoke of our Lord as "The man of others." Hence there was the fullness of joy in the life of our Lord. We also should have this kind of hunger and thirst for the welfare of others. Just imagine the zeal of a hungry man in eating and drinking.

A very good example for the hunger and thirst for righteousness is Abraham Lincoln, who worked for the freedom of the slaves and was killed by his enemies.

Prayer: Grant us O' Lord, to see others as your children, and to love them with the whole of our heart, soul and mind.

17. Blessed are those who humble themselves before God and men; for they will be exalted.

Our Lord says, "For all who exalt themselves, will be humbled and those who humble themselves, will be exalted." (St. Luke 14:11) If anyone tries to exalt himself/herself by proclaiming his/her good deeds and achievements, and by revealing the weakness and sins of others in contrast, others will be tempted to find out his/her shortcomings and to humiliate him/her. On the other hand, if anyone humbles oneself by refusing to speak of one's good deeds and tries to speak about good things of others, people will be tempted to exalt him/her by speaking about his/her good things.

Prayer: Grant us O' Lord the spirit of humility and respect in all our dealings with people.

18. Blessed are those who count others as better than themselves; for they shall be sincerely loved and respected by all.

St. Paul says, "In humility regard others as better than yourselves." (Phil. 2:3). In reality, some people may be lower than us. But we have to respect them as if they are better than we are. Just imagine a person respecting others who are poor, foolish and indecent, as if they are richer, more intellegent and more decent. Then the response will be whole-hearted respect, because, the deepest craving in man, is the craving for appreciation. St. Paul again says "Out-do one another in showing honor" (Rom. 12:10) Our Lord showed the respect for His disciples by washing their feet (St. John 13:5) He says "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentile and lowly in heart" (St. Matt. 11:29)

Prayer: O Lord, grant that we may respect others, as if they are better than ourselves.

19. Blessed are those who have pity on the suffering; for they will have pity from God and people.

Solomon the wise, says, "Whoever is kind to the poor, lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full." (Prov. 19:17) We find that those who have pity on the needy are loved and helped by all.

If people begin to identify themselves with one another and have pity, a lot of quarrels and wars can be avoided. In order to have pity on others, we have to identify ourselves with them. There is a story of a boy who corrected his father. The father had asked a workman to do some work in his house. The workman came very late in the night. Hence, he was not allowed to work in spite of his pleadings. He had to go out. The boy was noting this. On the way, the workman found a policeman who volunteered to plead for him. In spite of his pleadings also, the father did not allow the man to work. When they went out, the boy said to his father, "Daddy, how you would have felt, if you were in his place". The father realized his lack of sympathy. He therefore straight away and apologized. In order to have pity, we have to identify ourselves with people.

Prayer: O Lord, help us to identify ourselves with people and to have pity on them.

20. Blessed are those who forgive and forget; for they shall receive in peace to the full.

To forgive is our duty before God. St.Pul says, "Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Col. 3:13) "See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one anotherand to all." (1 Thes. 5:15) This is the only way to have peace of mind. The person, who does not forgive, is like the man who keeps wounds unhealed. He continues to suffer mentally. He will not get proper sleep. This may lead to physical ailments also. He will not get proper sleep. This may lead to physical ailments also. He forgets that the real way to make people love is by forgiving them. Moreover, it is our duty to forgive others as God forgives us.

Prayer: Help us O' Lord, to identify ourselves with those who hurt us, and forgive them whole-heartedly.

21. Blessed are those who apologize for their shortcomings; big or small, for they shall make their enemies, friends.

The sorrow and humility expressed in apology will create sympathy, and there will be complete reconciliation. To err is human and no one is completely free from errors. Apology is the best remedy for broken relationships.

The respectability of a person is not decreased by accepting the truth that he/she has committed a mistake. He/she is only accepting the truth that he/she is also an ordinary human being. Nobody is perfect. We go wrong some time or other. THe person who refuses to accept that he/she had gone wrong is under false prestige.

Prayer:Help os O Lord to apologize and get reconciled with those whom we have hurt.

22. Blessed are those who express their gratitude, for they shall feel happy and receive more help.

Generally speaking, the expression of gratitude is found among selfish people also. If there is anyone, who does not express gratitude, it must be because he/she is so much absorbed in selfishness. The story of the healing of the ten lepers (St. Luke 17:11-19) gives us the example of one who expressed his gratitude, while the rest nine didn't. Our Lord expressed His sorrow that the nine didn't come to give thanks. We all agree that the ingratitude of nine people wee so disgraceful and unpardonble. But do we realize that at times we also fail to offer thanks? The expression of gratitude prompts people to return this love. Should we not express our gratitude without failure?

Prayer: Grant O Lord that we may be thankful to YOU and all people, in all things.

23. Blessed are those who are obedient; for they shall be loved all the more.

Obedience is the result of love. Our Lord said, "Those who love me, will keep my word, and my Father will love them and will come to them and make our abode with them" (St. John 14:23,24)

Disobedience is the outcome of lack of love. Our Lord said, "Who-so-ever does not love me, does not keep my words." (St.John 14:24) The best way to make a person love us is to obey him/her. When we try to obey those who love us and please them, we will have a real inner joy. Our Lord is the perfect example for obedience. St. Paul says, "He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" Phil. 2:8) On the other hand we find that disobedience in Adam and Eve caused the loss of paradise.

Prayer: Help us O Lord, to be obedient as far as possible, following your example and win the love of people.

24. Blessed are those who submit to one another in the fear of God; for they will have respect for one another.

The young ones should obey the elder ones. But as children grow up, parents have to submit to their good suggestions. Otherwise the children would think that their respectability is questioned. St. Paul says, "Be subject to one another, out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21) When there is submission among one another, there will be respect and joy for all. At the same time all should be primarily subject to God's will.

Prayer: Help us God, to submit to one another in accordance to your will.

25. Blessed are those who control their anger through love; for they shall maintain peace and make people their well wishers.

Our Lord says, " Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (St.Matt 5:5) Moses was the meekest of men and so he was able to lead a great multitude through hardships to the Promised Land. It is note-worthy that our Lord did not cleanse the Jerusalem temple in haste on Sunday. He cleansed it on the following day. (St.Mark 11:17) There is a saying, "Think twice before you speak once. " Even when there is sufficient reason to get angry even when there is sufficient reason to get angry, it is better not to do so. If we don't get angry even when there is sufficient reason, we will be honored and respected. Any fool can get angry. But it requires God's grace to be meek.

Prayer:Help us O Lord to control our anger, by identifying ourselves with people through you.

26. Blessed are those who see others as God's children like themselves; for they can rejoice in their success without jealously.

Jonathan, the son of Saul the king, was not jealous of the success of David. "When David finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul and Saul took him that day and would not let him return his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his armor and his sword and bow with his griddle." (1 Sam 18:1-4) Everyone will love those who love others without jealousy.

Moreover, there is no reason for being jealous of any one. When God wants to bless the world, through any one, by giving him/her great talents, has not God the right to do so? Should we not then glad when others have greater talents?

Prayer:Help us O Lord, to overcome jealousy by seeing people as your children.

27. Blessed are those who see others as members of the same body; for they can work together enthausiastically for common good.

The main work of God is to fill us with love without interfering with our freedom. The Holy Trinity created man in His image and likeness with the potential to grow in love. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, fills us with love. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."(Rom. 5:5) Our Lord, the second person of Holy Trinity, fills people with love. The story of Zacchaeus is noteworthy. This greedy man offered to give half of his properties to the poor. (St. Luke 19:8)

It is not enough that we help people. We have to inspire them. The greatest good that we give to others and our children is to inspire them with love. This can be done only through selfless love.

Prayer:O Lord fill us with your love so that we may fill others with your love.

28. Blessed are those who give hope to those in despair; for they rejoice in their salvation.

Those who give hope to anyone in despair can have sweet memories. Those who receive help in times of need, will pray for the benefactors.

Prayer: Help us O Lord, to fill others with hope.

29. Blessed are those who help and encourage one another to do their best, without caring who gets the first place; for they all can rise up to the maximum.

In a certain college, the post-graduate students were competing for the rank. They did not help one another; for the fear that they will lose the first rank. Then one of the students told his classmates that if only they helped one another, all can have maximum success and that it did not matter who gets the first rank. As a result, three of them got first class and all the rest passed with second class.

Prayer:Help us to do our best O Lord, and make others do their best.

30. Blessed are those who take care to note even the small improvements in others and compliment them; for they can therby encourage them to do better and win their love.

Our Lord appreciated the apostles even in small things, though they had the weakness of ordinary people. On the eve of his death, He said, "You are those who have continued with me in my trials" (St. Luke 22:28). Generally speaking, we appreciate and encourage people who have achieved great things. But we fail to note the small improvements people make through their hard work. If only someone appreciates and encourages them, they will work harder and achieve greater success. If there is real love, we will try to encourage people even in small things. Also it is better to tell people and make them aware of their own high potential and do their best, instead of comparing them with others who are on a higher level.

Prayer:O Lord, help us to take interest in the lives of others and encourage them to do their best.

35. "Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God." (St. Matthew 5:9)

Generally speaking, people join with warring parties based on their vested interests. Others may keep away from both sides. But it is the duty of the children of God to create situations in which people can come to compromise in love. Efforts must be made to uphold the dignity of both parties in making settlements. Peace may be established through deeds of love.

There is a story of a nice lady who won the love of her neighbour who ill-treated her. One day the nice lady took some sweets to the other lady saying, "Siste I have brought some friendly gifts. Will you please taste it?" The neighbor was overwhelmed with wonder and love. She burst out saying; "It is now 36 years since anyone had given me a gift." This brought love and affection, which they enjoyed to the end of their lives.

In a certain general body meeting of a church, people got divided into two groups. The majority got their view passed. Then the leader of the minority, after reaching home, declared that he was going to start a new parish and get separated from the old one. Hearing this, the leader of the majority went to that person and offered that they would join together to build the new church. This brought the dispute to an end.

Prayer:Help us O' Lord, to overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:21)

36. Blessed are those who give counselling to the needy; for they can help them to handle their problems better.

Counselling becomes urgent, when people find it difficult to handle their problems by themselves. Everyone may be called upon sometime or other, to give counselling to people in various kinds od need. Hence it is the duty of everyone to qualify himself/herself to be good counselor as far as possible. Counselors should be trustworthy, wise and friendly. St. Paul says, "Bear one another's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2)

Prayer:Help us O Lord through your Holy Spirit to give counselling whenever it is necessary.

37. Blessed are those who suffer for others, friends or foes; for they show forth the love of God and they can rejoice in the welfare of their fellow beings.

Our Lord suffered for us and has given us an example to follow. St. Paul says, " God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) Note how the Good Samaritan took the trouble of saying the dying man on the road risking his own safety. (St. Luke 10:30-35) Also see the self-sacrificing love of Ruth for her mother-in-law. (Ruth 1:16-17) It is to be noted that she was fortunate enough to get Boaz, a rich man as her husband as a result of her self-sacrifice for her mother-in-law.

An Italian sister working in the leprosy hospital at Koratty, Kerala, India caught leprosy. When a visitor expressed his sympathy, her reply was "Well, I have come to die for them."

Prayer:O Lord help us to suffer for others following your example.

38. Blessed are those who can identify themselves with people through love, in their joys and suffereings; for they can love strangers and sinners also, while hating their sins.

Our Lord said, "Whatever you wish that men should do to you, do to them." (St. Matt. 7:12) When we identify ourselves with one another, we can "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep" (Rom. 12:15) as St. Paul says. When we ejoice with those who rejoice, we can decrease their sorrow. When we identify ourselves with others, hatred becomes impossible and love is generated.

Prayer:Grant O Lord, the spirit of fellowship so that we can share in the joys and sorrows of others.

39. Blessed are those who try to correct others; for they will become instruments in the hands of God

Our Lord has said that we sould be the salt of earth and the light of the world. (St.Matt. 5:13,14) As the salt of the earth, we must keep others and ourselves from all things and please others. As the light of the world, we must open the eyes of people to goodness, and inspire them to loe and respect.

Prayer:O Lord, help us to remain pure and transform people through counselling.

40. Blessed are those who bring up children in the proper way; for they can lay a firm foundation for their future and the future of the world.

Solomon the wise, says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6) Supreme importance is to be given to the training of the children, as their future depends on how they are brought up. The resurrected Lord asked St. Peter (as representative of the apostolic band), "Tend my lamps." (St.John 21:15) Hence it is the duty of the entire church to bring up children in the best way possible.

Great men, who contributed to the progress of mankind, were the products of excellent training that was provided to them during childhood years. If proper training is not provided in the young years of their lives, it may become almost impossible to change them in the adult years. Left to themselves, there is always the likelihood that children may spoil themselves and eventually become a headache to the society as a whole.

Prayer:O Lord help us to bring up children, to follow your example, out of our love to you.

41. Blessed are those who train people; for they an make their work continue without brak.

It is necessary to train people to continue the good works in every field. St. Paul gave Timothy, his disciple, the following instruction: "What you have heard from me before many witness, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach other also." (II Tim. 2:2) For all-round and continued progress of amnkind, there should be worthy successors. Our Lord trained twelve disciples to continue His work and they trained others in turn. This continuity of training is a must in all aspects of the society.

Prayer:O Lord, help us to train able people to continue the good work everywhere along with our earnestness in fulfilling our duty.

42. Blessed are those who try to do their best in everything; for they can develop all their abilities to the full extent, contribute maximum good to the society, and rejoice in the Lord.

Our love for God must be to the fullest, as God loves us utmost despite our un worthiness. "ye shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind." (St. Matthew 22:37) We have to love our neighbors also to the fullest. "Ye shall love your neighbor as yourself." (St. Matthew 22:39) In other words we must love others as Jesus loved us. He says, "This is my commandment that you love one another, as I loved you." (St. John 15:12) Solomon, the wise says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." (Eccl. 9:10)

"Do your best, your very best
And do it every day.
Little boys and little girls
That is the wisest way.
For if you do your best,
Your best will better grow.
But if you slight your daily task
You will let the better go."

Prayer:O Lord, help us to do everything in the best way, for your glory and the benefit of your children, in the fullness of our gratitude.

47. Blessed are those who are free from all sins without exception, and have the fullness of virtues; for they will have the fullness of spiritual health.

In order to have the fullness of heavenly joy, we must be free from all sins without exception. St. James says, "Whoever keeps the whole law, but fails in one point, has become accountable for all of it. For the one who said: you shall not commit adultery, also said you shall not murder. No if you do not commit adultery, also said you shall not murder. Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law." (St. James 2:10,11) One disease is enough to kill a man.

It is to be noted that all kinds of sex perversions are against spiritual health. Sex outside marriage is forbidden. Pre-marital sex is also forbidden. Even looking at woman with lust is considered a sin by our Lord. (St. Matt. 5:28) Homosexuality is forbidden (1 Cor. 6:9, Rom 1:26-27). Drunkenness is also forbidden (1 Cor. 6:10, Gal 5:20, Eph. 5:18).

On the other hand there must be the fullness of virtues like love, respect for others and self-imposed discipline. The lack of even one virtue may cause great sufferings. It is like the absence of an essential condiment in the preparation of a great dish. It is also the same as the occurrence of a disease caused by the deficiency of an essential vitamin.

Love of God and men is the real remedy of all kinds of sins.

Prayer:Help us O Lord to find out our hidden sins, get freed from them, and become filled with all virtues, so that we may have perfect spiritual health.

48. Blessed are those who see the bright side of life and work upon it in the midst of sufferings; for they will have a fruitful life.

Most people become disappointed and inactive when they face obstacles. But if they could see the bright side of life and try to work depending on God's grace, they can succeed in life and contribute to the welfare of mankind. Franklin Roosevelt of America who had an attack of polio, Dr. Mary Varghese of the Vellore Hospital, India, who became a paraplegic etc. are examples of this. Helen Keller of America is an outstanding example of this. Even though she was deaf and dumb, she was able to do a lot for the welfare of the deaf and blind. She was also the author of a number of books.

We must be able to rejoice even in the midst of sufferings. If any one hopes to have peace and joy after the complete removal of troubles in this world, he/she may not be able to have peace and joy at any time. St. Paul says, " Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say: Rejoice." (Phil. 4:4) It is to be noted that it was from a prison that St. Paul wrote this exhortation to rejoice. We must be like the bird singing, while the branch on which it is sitting is being torn away by a storm. We must be able to cast our burdens on God's love and power with the confidence that He can bring good out of all sufferings.

Prayer:Grant us O Lord your grace, to see the bright side of life, work with hope, and make our life fruitful.

49. Blessed are those who are satisfied with the minimum requirements of life; for they can joyfully help the needy.

Discontentment makes rich people poor while contentment makes poor rich. St. Paul was a good example for simplicity and generosity. He speaks of his own life as follows: "I coveted no man's silver or gold or clothing. You know for yourself that I worked with my own hands to support my companions and myself. In all this, I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of our Lord Jesus, for He Himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:33-35) There is no justification for luxuries, when people around us are in want and in sufferings, as all that we have are the gifts of God.

Prayer:O Lord, help us to realize the truth, that our time, talents, and money are given to us as a trust, to be used for the benefit of the whole mankind.

50. Blessed are those who have a cheerful heart; for they shall have all-round health.

Solomon the wise, says, "A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a down-cast spirit dries up the bones." (Prov. 17:22) When the heart is cheerful, health-promoting hormones begin to work. There is the story of a patient who was healed by saying the 23rd Psalm meditatively five times a day, for seven days. Casting our burdens on God who is full of goodness and power, and who can bring out of all situations, is the way to get rid of all anxiety and fear. On the other hand, when there is fear, anxiety, guilt complex and anger, poisonous hormones are produced, causing all kinds of diseases. Holy confession and reconciliation with one another are necessary to get rid of guilt-complex and to have a cheerful heart.

Prayer:O Lord, help us to have a cheerful heart by practicing your ever continued presence, by doing everything in love and by receiving forgiveness of sins.

51. Blessed are those who make the best use of time; for they can have maximum success, can grow to perfection and contribute the highest good to the society.

In this material world, time gives value to everything. If there is no time to utilize anything, it becomes useless. When we make the best use of time, everything becomes most useful. God wants to give us abundant life. For this He needs our cooperation. Hence we have to make the best used of time.

Our Lord is best example for making use of time. He said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work." (St. John 4:34) "We must work the works of Him who sent me, while it is day. Night comes when no one can work." (St. John 9:4)

It is said of our Lord as follows: 1. "He went about doing good". (Acts. 10:38). 2. "He did everything well." (St. Mark 7:38)

The parable of the ten virgins teaches us the value of time. The five virgins who made the proper use of time by storing oil were ale to light the lamps, greet the bridegroom and enter the bridal chamber. (St. Matthew 25:1-13) Hence the usage "Catch the time by forelock". The time that is lost is lost for ever.

Also, if opportune moments are not used in time, situations may go beyond our control. For example, there is no use of administering medicine after the patient has passed away.

Prayer:O Lord, help us to make the best of time and to see that opportune moments are not lost.

52. Blessed are those who try to do everything in love; for they can enjoy heavenly bliss and help others to enjoy the same.

The best example for doing everything in love is Jesus Christ. "He went about doing good." (Acts. 10:38) He was love incarnate. St. Paul says, "Let all you do, be done in love." (1 Cor. 16:14) St. Peter asks, "Now, who is there to harm you, if you are zealous for what is right?" (1 Peter 3:13) Those who do even small things in love will e appreciated by all. The way to have uninterrupted joy is to seek the joy of others ignoring one's own joy. Our Lord says, that the fullness of joy can e had only through the fullness of love. "These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment that you love one another as I loved you." (St. John 15:11-12)

There is an illustration showing the difference between heaven and earth. All things in heaven and hell are the same. The only difference is that there is love in heaven and lack of love in hell. Both places offer plenty of food to eat. But there is a catch for the inhabitants to enjoy the food. The spoons are attached to the people in both places in such a way that their elbows could not be bent. Therefore no one can feed himself or herself in either place. Those in heaven, on account of love, fed each other, while those in hell did not do so, for there was no love. This is true in everyday life.

When God's love abides in us, we also will be able to do everything in love, helping, forgiving, respecting, and submitting to one another. "Our goal is to be perfect in love." (St. John 15:12)

Prayer:O Lord, Help us to do everything in love, following your example and making this world a heaven on earth.

The really blessed are those who are being perfected as the heavenly Father is perfect. St. Matthew (5:8)