Blessed are the...

"Blessed are the poor, not the penniless, but those whose hearts are free.
Blessed are the meek, not the soft, but those who are patient and tolerant.
Blessed are the merciful, not those who forget, but those who forgive.
Blessed are the pure in heart, not those who act like angels, but those whose lives are transparent.
Blessed are the peacemakers, not those who shun conflict, but those who face it squarely.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice, not because they suffer, but because they love.

(Church workers in Santiago, Chile, found in "An Iona Prayer Book", Peter
Millar)




"One cannot wait for conditions to be easy in order to act. And so, people of goodwill must never be disheartened when faced with the sudden unleashing of violence.
In the midst of it all, the seed sown in our heart slowly germinates.
WHen God becomes a child, he knows there is no better way to express himself than through the weakness of a child.
That is love telling us that it comes unarmed"

(Christophe Munzihirwa, Archbishop of Bukuvu, Zaire, assasinated in 1996)



Thoughts for the day...