[Greek] μακάριος (makarios), [Latin] beatus: blessed, happy, fortunate: 50 scriptures
Do we live for God or do we live for ourselves?
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means blessed, happy, greatness, fame, importance, leisure, privilege, and intellectual understanding. This term refers to a transcendent godlike blessedness of man. Secular goods and values are highly cherished. A macarism (beatitude) is a philosophy in which one derives joy (blessing) in serving others.
Aristophanes’ Wasps 1275: “Oh blessed, fortunate, Autometes, how envious is your fortune!”
Plato’s Laws 7.803c: “A man ought to be in serious earnest about serious things, and that the object worthy of all serious and blessed effort is God.”
Plato’s Republic 1.354a: “He who lives well is blessed and happy, and he who does not the contrary.”
Aristophanes’ Knights 186: “Spoilt child of fortune, everything fits together to ensure your greatness.”
Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 8.3.9: “Within these lines no one may enter except those who hold positions of power of honor.”
Plato Euthydemus 303c: “There is one that stands out in particular magnificence or any would be important or famous people.”
Old Testament: This term means happiness, good fortune, joyful mind, and keeping the law. The Old Testament has examples of beatitudes: Gen. 30:13, Psa.40:2, Psa.143:15, Sir.25:8, Prov.14:21
New Testament: This term, meaning blessed, happy, and fortunate, predominately refers to the person who shares in the salvation of the kingdom of God. For the sake of brevity, I will exclude the Sermon on the Mount (Plain).
Notable scriptures: examples of blessedness
Mt.11:6: One who takes no offense at Jesus
Mt.16:17: Peter claiming that Jesus is the Messiah
Mt.24:46: The servant (church leader) faithful to the Master
Lk.1:45: Mary, who believed what spoken to her by the Lord
Lk.14:14: The one who invites (helps) the poor, crippled, lame, and blind (You will be repaid at the resurrection)
Jn.13:17: If you understand and follow Jesus’ example of “washing others’ feet”
Jn.20:29: Those who have not yet seen and have believed
Acts 20:35: It is more blessed to give than receive
1Cor.7:40: A wife is more blessed in remaining with her husband
Jas.1:25: One who hears and acts on the word of God
1Pet.3:14: One who should suffer because of righteousness
1Pet.4:14: If you are insulted for the name of Christ, for the Spirit rests upon you
An Old Irish Blessing for St. Patrick’s Day
May your days be many and your troubles be few.
May all God’s blessing descend upon you.
May peace be within you, may your heart be strong.
May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.
May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us.
May thy Salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore. Amen
Conclusion:
Beatitude, beatific
It is interesting that even Plato saw that real blessings come from God. Greek Hellenism celebrated fame, wealth, leisure, and prosperity.
Poor in spirit means focusing less on material possessions but more on God.
Righteousness means being in conformity to God.
“Washing one’s feet” essentially means being a servant to others.
Acting (doing) on the word of God can be challenging and rewarding.
Although it may sound counterintuitive, one who suffers for Christ will receive graces (blessings). Likewise, those who are persecuted or even martyred receive great blessings from God.
Update: Many of us feel like we also have transcendent god-like freedoms and liberties: redefining marriage, redefining and changing gender, unlimited freedoms and liberties (“I can do whatever I want”), having the right to be offended, abortion (disrupting God’s life creation), sex/gender indoctrination to students, etc.
It becomes very dangerous when one enters into God’s domain of the creation of life, marriage, sex, and gender! (Yet, unfortunately many are only concerned about having the “right” to do this.)
Many of us are acting like little pagans worshipping various gods: money, power, fame, technology, celebrity, etc.
Many of us seem to focus on earthly treasures, rather than heavenly treasures.
Many of us do not realize that heavenly treasures (blessings) are much longer lasting.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
“Christ beside me, Christ before me.
Christ behind me, Christ within me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me.” St. Patrick