For years, I have always seen a set of blue books sitting on Dad's bookshelf, but I have never really paid attention to them over the years. A few months ago, I decided to explore the books and quickly discovered that I found a treasure. These series of books date back to Dad's seminary days and has his underlines and notes written in them!
As I am working my way through the first book, I have become particularly fascinated by the annotation of the beatitudes. When skimming the beatitudes in the book of Matthew, the reader quickly becomes aware of the word order. Each sentence begins with "Blessed are the...."
The word blessed is a special word. The Greek word for blessed is makarios. Makarios describes joy as being serene and untouchable. It is self contained and completely independent of all the chances and changes of life. The beatitudes speak of joy that sees us through our pain and joy, gains and losses, joy and tears, etc. We have been given the gift of joy that nothing in life or death can take away.
Worldly joy can win or loose. A change in finances, health, career, or circumstance can either increase or decrease our amount of joy. However, the joy provided in our faith is untouchable. It is something that belongs to each of us today. The beatitudes are not hopes of what will eventually be. They are a congratulations to what currently is! We are "blessed" in the here and now. It is not something that we will eventually enter - it is something we have already entered.
We are blessed. Last night, we all came together at a dinner table as blessed people. Yes, we all have pain and troubles. By all means, none of us around the table are perfect. But our faith in Jesus brings a permanent joy that cannot be robbed from us by any earthly circumstance.
Blessed are all who believe. Find pure joy through your faith in the present. It is there waiting for you.
Thank you, Baptist Rabbi and his wife, for teaching me to soak in the joy provided by our Heavenly Father.
