"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:3-12, NIV)

Having grown up near the Galilee area where these words were spoken by Jesus Christ, Elisa Chacour has been followed by these words all his life. And, if his book Blood Brothers is any indication, he has strived to live out those words ever since he was a very young boy.

I recently read Blood Brothers. I bought it a couple of years ago on impulse from the WalMart checkout line. As I have mentioned, increasingly I find myself drawn to stories from eastern Europe and the middle east. Stories that naturally then draw one into seeing similar situations arising in other parts of the world, Myanmar being only the most recent.

Elias Chacour is a Palestinian Christian. Carrying that label had to have been confusing for the world and conflicting for himself but he has borne that label and lived it out well.

His family's peaceful life was violently uprooted in 1947 - 1948 with the establishment of the current state of Israel. They were relocated and all they had was taken from them, later put in a position of having to work the land they had once owned. Elias himself even as a young boy was suspected of being a terrorist and beaten in front of his family.

This book bears out the truths of how wealth and power corrupt. Without those things, individuals and societies can operate on the basis of principles but wealth and power bring greed and greed brings fear ... and our humanity drags us down further and further.

Blood Brothers is a great read ... the story of a man whose life is still devoted to education and bringing peace between Israelis and Palestinians.