These certainly don't sound like blessings to most of us. In what universe are poverty of spirit, meekness, and mourning called blessings? Apparently in Jesus' universe.

What does it mean to love Jesus "more than these"? Who is he referring to as "these" anyway? Does loving Jesus marginalize all the other loves in our lives?

Fear can paralyze us and turn us into people we don't particularly like. Fear will even cause us to lose faith sometimes. What did Jesus have to say about fear?