[ spoken word ] JESUS SAW THE CROWDS and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them: “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor: the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them! “Happy are those who mourn: God will comfort them! “Happy are the meek: they will receive what God has promised! “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires: God will satisfy them fully! “Happy are those who show mercy to others: God will show mercy to them! “Happy are the pure in heart: they will see God! “Happy are those who work for peace among men: God will call them his sons! “Happy are those who suffer persecution because they do what God requires: the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them! “Happy are you when men insult you and mistreat you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Rejoice and be glad, because a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how men mistreated the prophets who lived before you. “You are like salt for all mankind. But if salt loses its taste, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless; so it is thrown away and people walk on it. “You are like the light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.
