"SEND BLESSINGS!" I recently read this text message on my cell phone. It came from a friend, who sometimes asks for my prayers.
As I prayed in response to this request, I found myself pondering more deeply what it means to be blessed. A wish list of blessings might be for a big house, happy companionship, a new car, lots of money. I couldn't guarantee my friend those blessings. However, I felt I could guarantee the blessings described in the Beatitudes: comfort, righteousness, mercy, seeing God, being called a child of God.
According to Jesus, these blessings result from a spiritual outlook and actions such as meekness, mercifulness, purity of heart, being a peacemaker. To the degree my friend expressed such spiritual qualities, the promised blessings would follow.
