"’Todos los hombres buscan ser felices, sin excepción. Cualesquiera sean los diferentes medios que adopten, tienden a esta finalidad... La voluntad no ejecuta jamás el menor movimiento si no es hacia ese objeto. Ese es el motivo de todas las acciones de todos los hombres, hasta de aquellos que se quieren perder...’ Así dice Pascal, en una de sus Pensees más celebres. Este deseo de felicidad, natural e irresistible, es el motor de la voluntad que, impulsada de volición en volición, no sabe ni puede detener su dinamismo sino cuando llega a gozar del bien infinitamente perfecto. Pero ningún bien finito puede conformar todas las tendencias y deseos de la voluntad, su deseo íntimo y profundo de un Bien absoluto; al contrario, la posesión de los bienes finitos aumenta cada vez más el deseo íntimo y profundo del Bien perfecto: la ‘voluntad deseada’ no iguala a la ‘voluntad deseante’, que aun desea y deseará siempre, hasta que posea el objeto de su aspiración suprema (Blondel). Pero si es así, si los hombres, hasta cuando se pierden, desean la felicidad plena -aquella que no remite a ninguna otra-, es evidente que la voluntad humana está originariamente orientada hacia su fin absoluto, o sea que en ella existe la presencia de ese Bien sumo al que aspira. Puede decirse, con San Agustín: no importa qué cosa busque y desee el hombre, siempre busca y desea a Dios. Hay, en el fondo del deseo natural de beatitud, una necesidad de fidelidad a un bien al que siempre se puede ser fiel, porque es absoluto: la infinita capacidad de querer encuentra en el Bien absoluto su objeto adecuado, la voluntad realiza el plan, el proyecto de sí misma. Faltar a esa fidelidad es, para el hombre, caer por debajo del hombre. En la raíz de la voluntad hay una esencial dramaticidad: es la de querer con todas sus fuerzas el Bien absoluto y saber, al mismo tiempo, que la fidelidad y el empeño empleados al máximo no le proporcionan una garantía contra la caída ni bastan para obtener por sí solos la beatitud. Son, sin embargo, la condición indispensable para que la voluntad se mantenga conforme a su norma y no se evada de la participación final. En efecto, orientar toda la capacidad de la voluntad que desea hacia un bien finito es el acto innatural de la voluntad, es la guerra de la voluntad contra sí misma, contra su deseo natural del bien infinito. Y es el mal, en cuanto que, dado que el deseo de infinito es indestructible, la infinita capacidad de querer, concentrado en un bien finito, lo absolutiza. Así la aspiración al infinito, que es de naturaleza teísta y religiosa, se degrada en la idolatría y el fanatismo. Es una subversión: es asentir a lo falso, por haber rechazado lo verdadero. La autenticidad de la naturaleza humana se pierde, hasta que, caído el ídolo, la orientación genuina de la voluntad retoma su curso natural y se eleva al verdadero nivel humano de deseo natural de beatitud en Dios”.

La existencia de Dios, Michele Federico Sciacca

Vagaba como nube solitaria que sobre alcor y valle flota en alto, cuando de pronto vi una multitud, una legión de danzantes narcisos; bajando el oquedal que sale al lago, miles y miles bailando en la brisa.

Bailaban también las ondas, mas ellos su cabrilleo en júbilo vencían: con tan risueña compañía sólo cabía al soñador alborozarse. Sin pagarme miraba, y no sabía qué riquezas tal vista me brindaba.

Pues tantas veces que en mi lecho yazgo con ánimo meditabundo o ayuno, fucilan ante los internos ojos que son la beatitud del solitario; se colma luego de contento el alma y comienza a bailar con los narcisos.

*

I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd A host of golden Daffodils; Along the Lake, beneath the trees, Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.

The waves beside them danced, but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:— A Poet could not but be gay In such a laughing company: I gaz'd —and gaz'd— but little thought What wealth the shew to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude, And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils.

William Wordsworth

di-versión©ochoislas

Constant Montald (1862-1944, Belgian) ~ Beatitude, 1893

[Source: invaluable.com]

For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes (Matthew 5). But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course, that's Moses, not Jesus. I haven't heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. 'Blessed are the merciful' in a courtroom? 'Blessed are the peacemakers' in the Pentagon? Give me a break!

—Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country (2005). He's talking about you, Mike Johnson.

[Thanks Robert Scott Horton]

"Autumn why do u cry when you take the church's donations to the food bank" "why do u get so emotional when you sort donations for the congregation's college students" because i was hungry and you fed me. because i was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. because whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me. because in gods kingdom, the last must be put first. because this is the purest religious experience i can have and the most direct communion with the divine.

01/27/2023

siiip...

___

JOKE-OGRAPHY: Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."  The priest in this cartoon asks his students what they think He meant.  The girl who raises her hand says her father only feels blessed when he's POURIN' spirits, which implies her father is a drinker.  The joke is that "poor in spirit" (Jesus's quote) sounds like "pouring spirits" (i.e. drinking spirits, as in alcohol), so the girl is confusing the two terms and implying that Jesus meant people who drink a lot of alcohol feel blessed.

Rereading my favorite children’s books: A religious experience

Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are they who mourn, they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, they will see God.

Blessed are the peacekeepers, they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Matthew 5:3-12a (NIV): Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.

05-04-24 | MisterLemonzMen.tumblr.com/archive

EL METEORO

Entre los barrotes del recinto penitenciario una naranja cruza como un relámpago y cae en el bacín como una piedra Y el preso cubierto de mierda resplandece radiante de alegría No me ha olvidado Sigue pensando en mí.

*

LE MÉTÉORE

Entre les barreaux des locaux disciplinaires une orange passe comme un éclair et tombe dans la tinette comme une pierre Et le prisonnier tout éclaboussé de merde resplendit tout illuminé de joie Elle ne m’a pas oublié Elle pense toujours à moi.

Jacques Prévert

di-versión©ochoislas

I have wasted my day.

I spent what felt like an hour and a half, slouched in my chair, meticulously tracing a Garfield comic in order to create... this.

[Image ID: A tracing of a Garfield comic panel depicting the Sailor Moon character Luna as Garfield, making her into a plump, grumpy-looking cartoon version of herself, a black-purple cat with orange eyes, pronounced eyelashes, visible pink in her ears, and a yellow crescent moon on her forehead. She is against a pink backdrop, and is resting her arm against the light purple table. Her though bubble reads "Yes, and I'm a purple cockatoo", and "@newwavesailor on Tumblr 1-2-2024" written in small text in the bottom-right corner. /.End ID]

It's 5:16 PM and I'm really hungry.

June 15, 2023 – Matthew 5:3-12

The Beatitudes

(Psalm 1:1-6; Luke 6:20-23)

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

American King James Version (KJVUS)

A tree struck by lightning, Gundiah, Queensland. [Photo by Suzanne McCowen via ABC Brisbane]

* * * *

“Scripture scholars contend that the original language of the Beatitudes should not be rendered as “Blessed are the single-hearted” or “Blessed are the peacemakers” or “Blessed are those who struggle for justice.” Greater precision in translation would say, “You’re in the right place if…you are single-hearted or work for peace.” The Beatitudes is not a spirituality, after all. It’s a geography.  It tells us where to stand.”

― Gregory J. Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion

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