Blessed are those who fear the Lord

"Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and who walk in his ways.
What your hands provide you will enjoy;
you will be blessed and prosper"  (Psalm 128: 1 - 2)

The Church celebrates today the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist.  Jesus praised John as the greatest of all born of woman.  John the Baptist, the privileged and only child of a priest was anointed in the womb.  John would rank high among those that are blessed.

The above brief biography makes me reflect on Psalm 128: 1 - 2 and ask myself, "What does it mean to be blessed?"  John lived an austere life in the desert.  He ended his life in death row and was beheaded.  Where is the blessing in the life of John?  Then I got the insight.  The blessed of God are not to be compared like the blessed of the world.  When the TV evangelist says that one is blessed, he probably means that one has lots of money, good family, good health and all creature comforts.

The blessed of God are those whom Jesus says possess genuine riches.  According to the Lord, there are two types of riches: riches that can rust or lost and riches that  cannot never rust and which no man can take from you.  John possesses the latter.  He is rich in faith, hope and love.  He is rich in patience, wisdom, humility, courage, peace and contentment.  He is rich in what matters most.  He is genuinely rich.

What type of riches do you prefer?