Each of the Beatitudes begins with the Greek word “Makarios,” which is often translated “blessed” or “happy.” Some scholars suggest that a better translation of the Greek word might be “flourishing,” such that the beatitudes would read: “Flourishing are those who.…”
Human flourishing is closely tied to virtue as found in the writings of Plato, Aristotle, and St. Thomas Aquinas. In these writings, the ethical life is not merely about external deeds but a journey toward becoming a certain kind of person - a process of the full flowering of human nature. This full-flowering is about living in accordance with truth, justice, and the moral virtues AND attaining happiness. Let’s explore together what it means to be Pure in Heart and Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness and Justice… seeking God, experiencing the full-flowering of a flourishing life.
