| | Up until this point, we see that our Lord Jesus Christ has been emphasizing the need to recognize just how self concerned we are. To examine ourself and see how utterly corrupted by self interest we are, how truly poor we are in spirit and how much at the same time we hate it yet mourn because we cannot get rid of it entirely. However, when we approach this next beatitude, there is a different note to the last three. "Blessed" says Jesus, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." Why? Simply-"for they will be filled." Let's take this sentence literally: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." To be blessed is to be happy in a sense and filled carries a sense of satisfaction. What is seen today is everyone thirsting and hungering after happiness- the saying is "be happy" (and ironically 'don't worry'). People are trying their hardest to seek that happiness in their life, but they can not find it. Why? Because they are seeking directly for it. Happiness can't be found itself, it comes from seeking something else. It comes, says Jesus, from hungering and thirsting for righteousness. What is this righteousness mentioned here? Automatically we think of 'good' men who are moral and got a heart of gold. Who want peace between nations, love, honesty, care etc. These are 'right' in themselves, but I think Jesus is elucidating something more. Given the previous 3 beatitudes, this righteousness is the pure desire to be free from sin in all its shape and form, for it is sin which separates us from God. Its the desire to be right with God and the fact that a man ain't right with God is why he's gone wrong everywhere else. Just like how your body recognises that you need food or water and will not stop, with hunger pains, until you find food and fill up. So too, we should actually "hunger and thirst" after that right-ness with God and not stop until we are filled. What does this mean practically? We should work harder to be right? No, that'd be like the Pharisees who were under law. We are to realize how much we need God, and if you truly believe in Jesus' death on the cross, then you know you are forgiven, and you know that God does not see you as that sinner. You are under grace. And that starts with the continual hungering and thirsting after righteousness. You don't just get filled right away and end of story. No, once your desire is recognised, it will grow, and God will make you grow. Just like how our bodies need food and we will never stop hungering after food, so too, will our desire for God grow.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
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| | Posted 10/25/2008 8:51 PM - 3 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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