Read Luke 6:21
"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied"
Luke 6:21
The version of this Beatitude in the Gospel of Matthew reads "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt. 5:6). What is the righteousness (Hebrew tzeddeq) that is referred to here? First of all it is important to note that the image of thirst was very appropriate in Israel because like in Malta, summer is very dry and the rainy season is short. You will be asked to keep well hydrated as we travel through the Holy Land.
Scripture mentions water over 1000 times because in the Bible water is associated with God’s Presence (in fact water was very much in use in the Temple liturgy) and thirst is associated with the desire for God’s Presence: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psa. 42:1-2/ ) "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Psa. 63:1).
This beatitude promises that if we seek God we will find Him: ‘They will be filled’ is a passive verb because God does the filling. God is really Himself when He pours Himself out to us. This beatitude also reminds us that we are to seek holiness, that is, right living in God’s eyes. However Jesus is not saying blessed are those who are completely righteous and totally perfect but blessed are those who continuously strive after it at any cost.
Lord thank You that my very thirst for You and for holiness are a gift. But the gift is also a task and I do not want to spare any effort in seeking to please You in the way I live my daily life.