Be Happy and Be Glad

Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. (Mt. 5:12)

We live in a world full of complexities. We have that freewill to choose what we want, what we need and what we aspire of. In the act of choosing, we are so fastidious that we select the best, the highest and the extreme. In choosing a friend, we choose those who are kind, intelligent, humble and good looking like us (presumably). We make to associate the attributes that will suffice the lacking in us. We want those persons that we have in common. Even in our ordinary life, in buying goods in the department store, we choose the best quality, the most extravagant and the most durable. We neglect the ugly things in our taste, the least quality, the few and the less. There is nothing wrong with this as long as we must not use it to exploit all things available, as long as we don’t hurt others, as long as it is for the will of God. These are manifestations of being human, alive. 

Like Jesus, who has human attributes which are truly perfect and sinless for we are made in His likeness, has also chosen people. He chose the poor, the merciful and the persecuted. It is a manifestation that God really loves the oppressed, those in down, those who being neglected. It is the long awaited time of the oppressed to hear their voice, to feel their sentiments and to know their clamour. 

Basically, it does not mean that if we are poor, merciful and the persecuted it follows that we are chosen by God. Yes, we do but we must act according to His will. We must follow his commandments, live His teaching and do good deeds to our fellows. With that, albeit we are poor, merciful and persecuted, God promised us the Kingdom of heaven. In God’s grace and in our deep faith, we will attain it. Just believe in Him.