He discovers his riches are poverty, his wealth is woe, the blessing he sought to grasp had become a curse to his life. The beatitudes confront us with a similar discomfort, proclaiming that much of the gold we value and seek in life, is but fools gold, luring people to death rather than bestowing life. The beatitudes are no moralising homily, meant to encourage good people to become even better. They are an assault on a world value system which lures us so well and promises so much, but which so often leaves us holding fools gold. And so we live our lives, plan our careers, elect our Governments, and dream for our children, according to their attractive decrees.
Power is blessed.
Wealth is blessed. Recognition is blessed Virility is blessed Achievement is blessed. The capacity to exploit others is blessed. Fools' Gold, says the preacher from Nazareth. Woe to you who are rich, you who spend more money in a year on lottery tickets and on renting movies than on helping your neighbours, and you wealthy nations who spend as much on dog-food, as it would take to provide a basic diet for every person on the planet.