St. James' Church Bushypark Galway

Blessed are people who have lost a lot – isn’t this is what Jesus is saying? People who have lost money and are poor, who lost love and who weep, who have lost food and are hungry. And we can think of people who have lost a lot, people who are out of work, who are lonely or without friends, and wonder what sort of happiness is this?

We can only ask if there have been times when life seemed very empty and yet there was peace. When children leave home, either because they want to or have to; when family relationships go sour, the soul and heart are opened, and the love and care of God may enter.

Or in the middle of the pain and disappointments, we know that some other energy is around, that gives another peace, not in place of what we missed, but alongside it. And we begin to know that there are many happinesses, some can last, like love and convictions, some last a while, like youth and health, some last forever like faith, hope and love, and on blessing nobody can take from us is the relationship we have with God in Jesus, for in all of life’s experiences is a space for the blessing of God.