Goodness is a very ambiguous word that can mean just about anything to anyone about anything or anyone. We can see the goodness in someone and we seek to have that goodness in ourselves. Where does this goodness come from?
In the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, that we Orthodox use during Great Lent, near the end of the Liturgy we pray that God make the wicked good through God’s goodness. In this we say that all goodness resides in the Creator and through him all things can be made good. Genesis tells us that during creation God would look at His creation and call it good. How could the Supreme Being create anything that is not good?
The Dictionary definition of the word is as follows:
1. the state or quality of being good; specif.,
a. virtue; excellence
b. kindness; generosity; benevolence
2. the best part, essence, or valuable element of a thing
The same dictionary tell us that the word is a euphemism for God as in “Oh my Goodness” So it would seem that the word has to do with the goodness of God.
Goodness is a virtue and therefore something that we need to strive for. Goodness means to be God-like because at the very essence of God is all Goodness and that is what we strive for. As being created in the image and likeness of God we have the ability for this goodness, we just need to tap into it.
To pray to make the wicked good through God's goodness — it's praying for others as God has done for us. Beautiful.
How very true …
We do need to strive for goodness… these are great thoughts.
Thanks for sharing!
I love your thoughts on Goodness, yes goodness is a virtue, one that takes a lot of work at times.
Wow. thank you.
As always I love your post.Goodness only comes from God. We ourselves cannot, but with Gods help I can do good, and be good.
"Goodness means to be God-like because at the very essence of God is all Goodness and that is what we strive for."
AMEN!