Is there anything in your life that makes you happy?  What makes you happy?  A 30-million-peso win in a lottery? A house? A car? Or better yet, is there something missing in your life that keeps you from being happy?  There's a saying, "don't worry, be happy."

How do we know that God wants us to be happy?  Are we sure that the things that we think will make us happy will truly make us happy?

In the Beatitudes, the first word is "Blessed." Blessed are the.... These are attitudes that we must have.

1.  Blessed are the rich.
2.  Blessed are the famous.
3.  Blessed are the gifted.
4.  Blessed are the powerful.

But Jesus gives a different meaning of being blessed.  He called His disciples to a higher place on the mountainside away from the crowd and began to teach.

This is not about material poverty, nor missing to read the Bible. To be poor in spirit is to recognize that apart from God, one is hopeless and helpless. It's the  very experience of Mother Teresa during the hour of her death.

Contrary to the prayer of a Pharisee that said "I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican." While the Publican said, "Lord forgive me, I'm a sinner."

Poor in Spirit = Emptiness

This is the first beatitude that we must experience. Unless we undergo such experience of emptiness, until we have not felt hunger for God, we will never see true happiness.

* The poor in spirit has a broken and contrite heart.

* The poor in spirit is humble.

* The poor in spirit is dependent on God.

The story of Peter tells us about how he obeyed Jesus to cast the net on the other side of the boat even if he knew that they have been fishing all night and caught nothing.

And when they hauled their nets with a lot of fish, Peter realized that it was Jesus and uttered, "Stay away from me Lord, I'm a sinful man."

It was an acceptance of Peter of his nothingness.  Like a glass of water that can no longer take in more water when it is full, Peter emptied himself so he can be filled by the Lord.

If we are empty, only then can be we filled with happiness.

Mourn = Brokennesss

Brokenness is a state where we realize sin breaks God's heart and then our heart grieves over this truth.

1. There is the mourning caused by personal loss.
2. There is the mourning caused by the sin and suffering in the world.
3. There is the mourning caused by our own sin.

Mourning has an ending.  It won't last forever.  When we mourn because of our own sin, we shall be comforted.  It is where the Sacrament of Reconciliation comes in.

1.  The Comfort of Salvation.
2.  The Comfort of Condonation.
3.  The Comfort of Translation.

Meek = Submissiveness

Meekness is gentleness, not weakness.

How do we go about developing meekness in our lives?
Ps. 37:1-8 - "    Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. Like grass they wither quickly; like green plants they wilt away. Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.  Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart's desire. Commit your way to the LORD; trust that God will act and make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday. Be still before the LORD; wait for God. Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers. Give up your anger, abandon your wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm.

"The happiest people in the world are those who yield themselves to experience the grace of God every day."