Thoughts for the Day

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

'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 receive mercy.
'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I have looked at 'The Beatitudes' three times before (click here to see: Beatitude 1; Beatitude 2; Beatitude 3) and have explored three of these sayings. We might consider them as "Be-attitudes!", in other words attitudes we might aspire to, which will bring to us happiness, but also God's joy and peace. Today we look at the 4th saying: 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.'

Jesus sits - the traditional position for a teacher. Those listening know what it is to feel real hunger and thirst. In a land where the average person barely earned enough to survive, where crop failures could lead to destitution; and where water was in short supply so that a traveller might find themselves caught miles from the next well, they understood hunger and thirst in a way that most in the western world do not.

Jesus says we are blessed when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, meaning we are blessed when we seek for all that is good; not just to desire good, but seek it as though we have lived through a sand-storm and feel we shall choke for want of water; or as someone might desire food who hasn't eaten for days. We are to want goodness with every fibre of our being, and then, even when we fail, God says He will count it to our credit, and we shall be filled with His love.

Lord Jesus Christ,
create in us such a desire for goodness in our life,
that we may measure all that we do and think
against Your actions.
Help us to aim for the best in all that we do:
to help those who are in need,
to seek to comfort others,
to bring light and joy into the lives
of those with whom we come in contact,
and work to spread Your love in our world.
Amen.