Early in his ministry, Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount to a crowd of people ranging from believers to skeptics, teaching them what it means to live an uncommon life. As he begins the sermon, Jesus first explains what it means to be blessed, not just a feeling of happiness, but to flourish with God. In the first few Beatitudes, he connects this idea of being blessed with being poor in spirit and mourning. Jesus promises that both will lead to an intimate relationship with God, where we can experience his presence.
