*BLESS/*BLESSED/*BLESSINGS/*BLEST - see GRACE, CURSE
Blessings are potential curses. For example, a strong will is a strong temper. (Further, p37)
Lot was not a man of faith and therefore not blessed. Adam and Eve were banished from Eden, the easterly direction had come to symbolize distance and exile from the divine presence, and without the sacred there could be no blessing. (Beginning, p58-9)
Blessing is intended to make a person feel at one with himself and with the rest of the world; it is a partial recovery of the lost wholeness of Eden. (Beginning, p79)
The sense of transcendance and of the sacred dimension of life, which was an essential part of the blessing, was evidently LINKED TO THE INTEGRITY OF A LIFE THAT HAS COME TO TERMS WITH THE PAST AND WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE INTRACTABLE SELF. (Beginning, p83)
Genesis reminds us once again that God - like life - is not fair. The point of blessing is not to give everybody the same but to enable each man to fulfill his potential. (Beginning, p116)
mixed blessings
Beatitudes (Matt 5:3-10)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matt 5:8)
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. (John 20:29)
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, because they will never stop enjoying themselves. Blessed are those who think before they act and pray before they think; they will avoid a lot of stupidities. Blessed above all are you who can recognize the Lord in everyone you meet; you have found the light and true wisdom. (Father Gregory Zanoni, St. Peters, Syr Papers 4/27/96)
My blessings are my family, friends, relatives, low keyness, humility (knowing I'm not very alert, have short memory, short height), able to laugh at self, organizational and logic skills, stability and responsibility, willingness to change, non-competitiveness, non-athletic (therefore sports are not very important to me), health, looks, job, house, car, etc. I need to "count my blessings" and be thankful to God. Most of our blessings are mixed, bittersweet, and paradoxial. For example, my conversion has resulted in less worldliness, my shortness has resulted in humility, my absent father in my fatherhood, my poor language leads me to do more listening than speaking, Bonnie's criticisms awakening me to my shortcomings. (Randy)
No matter how often we may speak of counting our blessings, we usually do take them for granted. (Common Sense, p25)
*BEATIFIC/*BEATITUDES/+*32
The Beatific Vision which the devils forfeited because of their pride they must now observe being enjoyed by what was once a "mere" mortal. (The Screwtape Letters, p172)
Blessed are the simple, for they shall have much peace. (Thomas a Kempis)
The "Be-attitudes" or attitudes of being, are the steps on the stairway of devotion. By practicing these attitudes, you prepare the ground to invite God into your heart. (Divine Rev, p91)
ENLIGHTENMENT IS SEEING HOW THINGS REALLY ARE. Such an experience as the "beatific vision". (Contemplation, p38)
Is a state of mind that is both BLESSED and BEAUTIFUL. I wonder if: we're responsible on our own to obtain the "beatific vision" by realizing (coming face to face) that God is both within (via the Holy Spirit) and without (as the entire universe). Also see JUDGMENT. (Randy)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thrist for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:3-10)
See POOR,MOURN,MEEK,HUNGER/THRIST,MERCIFUL,CLEAN,PEACEMAKERS,PERSECUTED.