1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The blessed people are not those who are powerful, rich, influential, handsome or pretty, popular, or intelligent.  In fact, the opposite is true: the above eight types of people are those despised by the world.  Why does God delight to bless them?

First, God delights to bless such people because God knows the struggles and pains of the lowly in society.  God is compassionate.  Hence, the Bible often records that God takes care of widows, orphans, and needy people.

Second, God blesses these eight types of people because they rely on God as their only true source of help.  They know that only God can help them: the “poor in spirit” know they are “poor” and need to rely on God; those “who mourn” do so because they are suffering and will hence rely on God; the “meek” characterises people who do not fight for their own rights but are willing to give way to others as they know that God will take care of them; those “who hunger and thirst for righteousness” are people who honour and obey the commands of God; the “merciful” are those who know honour God by doing what He desires, which is to be merciful as God Himself is also merciful; “the pure in heart” are those who shun sin so as to please God; “the peacemakers” are people who please God because God desires peace amongst human relationships; “those who are persecuted because of righteousness” are people who love God fervently and wholeheartedly so much so that they are willing to do what pleases Him even if they die for doing so.  All eight types of persons are those who truly rely on God, that is, have faith in God.  They demonstrate faith by doing what pleases God, rather than doing what they think can help them survive in the world. 

What is faith in God?  You will do what pleases God rather than simply what helps you survive in this world filled with sufferings.  When you rely on God in this way: do what pleases Him and not just what helps you out of difficulty, you are blessed as the eight types of persons are blessed.  If you want have a truly blessed Chinese Lunar New Year, you must have faith in God because God has pity on needy people and because God honours those who honour Him.  Blessed Chinese New Year.