If the devil, whom we don’t hear much about today, were to write his Beatitudes, they might go something like this:

• “Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians in Church, they are my best workers.

• Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked, I can use them.

• Blessed are the touchy, with a bit of luck they may stop going to Church, they are my missionaries.

• Blessed are those who are very religious but get on everyone’s nerves, they are mine forever.

• Blessed are the troublemakers, they shall be called my children.

• Blessed are those who have no time to pray, they are easy prey for me.

• Blessed are the complainers, I’m all ears for them.

• Blessed are you when you read this and think it is about other people and not yourself, I’ve got you.”