Morning

      I rose from my knees and brushed off my tunic from the dirt that had collected while I had prayed in the early morning hours.  Today I sensed a certain peace would go out from me and into those I would shortly begin to minister to.  It was only the first hour of the morning yet I knew this day would be one that I would not soon forget.  All of the others had already departed from me and had gone on to the waters edge and had begun their day.  I started down the hillside along the well worn path and into the gentle rolling hills of my hometown.  The sun that was behind me warmed my back and I felt comfort and a gentle stirring within me the closer I walked into the village.  It didn't take long for those who saw me to start following along behind me making their way to wherever it was that I was going to.  It didn't matter to them they just wanted to be with me.  I had gotten used to it by now and it was ok with me.  
     Though there were well over a two hundred following along behind me there was a hushed silence in their midst and only the sound of  leather sandals, many of them scratching along the path raising dust along with the sounds.  
     Soon I would be to the place I had wanted to be while I had prayed in the darkness so many hours before.  I was surrounded by olive trees fully loaded down as it was the harvest season.  Shepherds tended their flocks in these hills and made their living for many generations here grazing them while they intently locked their eyes on me as I made my way to the top of the hillside.  It was there that I paused and gave thanks to my father, and so began my morning.  

     As if on cue the many hundreds of people sat gently down in fields.


     “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    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 filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness


 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.