“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-12) To praise someone is a blessing. It occurs frequently in the Old and New Testament - the literary genre known as the beatification speech. The words of the beatitudes from Jesus are the light of salvation. The angel Gabriel also used the same sort of beatification to greet Virgin Mary, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." One woman from the crowd called out and said to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." Jesus replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." (Luke 11:27-28) When Simon Peter admitted that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 16:16-17) Blessing is a gracious gift from God and a present as well. However, it is more important for us to know how to use and treasure it. Jesus said to Faustina, “My Sacred Heart hurts the most when those who received my blessing did not show gratitude.” Jesus desires us to live out the love of perfection, not to serve the Lord with an un-attentive heart. We have to be alert or else we will fall into the mentality of man. Simon Peter was a good example. When Jesus foretold about His crucifixion, Peter then took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." Jesus turned and said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." (Matthew 16:22-23) What Jesus values (blessing), is our heart and soul united with the Lord!