Blessed

Alexei Navalny, Russian patriot and Putin’s great critic, when imprisoned and treated harshly by Putin’s government, was comforted by the Sermon on the Mount. So much so that he learned it off by heart. He added to that accomplishment by also learning it in English, French and Latin! In his autobiography, he spoke of the experience as “a delight.”

 

At a court hearing, his testimony referenced the Sermon, particularly Matt. 5:6, saying, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be satisfied” declaring this as his “guide for life” and a reminder that millions of Russians long for truth.

 

I’m reading the New Revised Standard Version of Harper Collins Study Bible (NRSV). It points out that “Jesus both interprets the old law and offers a new law, recalling the revelation to Moses in Mount Sinai.”

 

Some versions of the Beatitudes give “happy” where the King James Version (KJV) has “blessed.”

NRSV also offers “fortunate” in its notes. Happy seems weak to me; fortunate reminds me of luck.

NRSV stays with “blessed.”

 

Dictionary offers for “blessed”- Adjective: Made holy; consecrated. Endowed with divine favour and protection. Noun: those who live with God in heaven.

 

Matt. 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. NRSV says, “The heart was considered the region of thought, intention, and moral disposition.”

 

Matt. 5:17. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” AI says, “This means Jesus came to bring the Old Testament scriptures (the Law and the Prophets) to their ultimate purpose, not to destroy them, by perfectly embodying their moral teachings, fulfilling messianic prophecies, and demonstrating true righteousness, thereby completing their meaning for believers.” That sounds quite scientific to me.

But I haven’t come up with a quote from Mrs. Eddy yet.

Joyce Voysey