blessed are the poor.

[then Jesus said to his disciples, "i tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."] - matthew 19:23

i have food.
and water.
and shelter.

i am rich.

it is hard for me to enter the kingdom of heaven.

i have heard these words before.
i know these words.
and yet i rarely think
woe is me, for i am rich.

[looking at his disciples, he said:
"blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

rejoice in that day and leap for joy,
because great is your reward in Heaven.
for that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
but woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.] - luke 6:20-26