The Correct Order of Things

   Matthew 5:8 (NKJV):

"Blessed are the pure in heart,
    For they shall see God."

   Matthew 5:8 (The Message)?

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."

   Where do I go with this passage today?

   I ran across this on one of my rabbit trails this morning. Since I have been using St. Francis of Assisi, his actions and words to shepherd my thoughts through these Sermon on the Mount chapters in Matthew's Gospel, I looked up this verse on Google with his name attached to the search.

   After reading down through a long list of things out in the world that can take my heart away from being pure and holy, there were these lines, written as a prayer: (not by Francis but another)

"That others may be esteemed more than I,


Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.That in the opinion of the world, others
may increase, and I may decrease,...


Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be chosen and I set aside,


Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.That others may be praised and I unnoticed,


Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.That Others may be preferred to me in everything,


Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.That others may become holier than I, provided
that I may become as holy as I should."


Jesus grant me the grace to desire it."
   In my desire to be holy, do I just concentrate on myself or is there more?

   Others, the more important ones.

   The path to purity of heart leads through the land that others occupy and is evidenced by my attitudes toward them.

   Jesus first, Others second, then me......