Week 08 - Blessed are the Merciful

The first four beatitudes generally focus on how to live in relationship with God, our so-called "vertical relationship."  The second four generally focus on to live in relationship with one another, our "horizontal relationships."  The two are tightly connected.  A person in a relationship with God will treat other people in a manner that reflects His nature and His attitudes towards people.

Mercy is all about how we look at other people. We treat them as best we can, even better than ourselves. I think there is a parallel to the first beatitude, poor in spirit. A person ‘poor in spirit’ recognizes his true worth before God. A merciful person recognizes his true worth before other men. He understands that “There but for the grace of God, go I” and treats others accordingly.


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