There's a story of a man that went to a Buddhist master, wanting to know the true Way or Path. They went for a walk and got to a river, and started wading across. Suddenly the Master grabbed the man, pushed him under water and held him there. After he let the man up, gasping, the Master asked, "What did you want most when you thought you were drowning?" "Air". "When you want to know the true path that badly, then you will find it."
This is true of Righteousness. You have to have a thirst so powerful, you can't go without it. Most people, want a drink, turn on the tap. Want something to eat? Open the fridge. Some think...want a spiritual drink? Go to church. Hunger for the Spirit...have communion. That may partially satisfy. The way these words are used in the Greek, it's meant as not just hunger for a piece of bread, but the whole loaf. Not just wanting a sip of water, but the whole glass.
You can't be good or do good part of the time. You can't witness or be a disciple part of the time. Thirsting and hungering for salvation and righteousness isn't a part time thing. It must inform every thought of every day in all we do.
Here is my face – Smile through it.
Here is my mouth – Speak to someone with it.
Here are my ears – Listen to someone with them.
Here is my heart – Love someone with it.
Here are my hands – Touch someone with them.
Here are my arms – Hug someone with them.
Here are my feet – Walk with them
(Writer unknown)
To do this, you must have yourself filled with the Spirit all the time.
I know that it's a struggle, that often I'm only partially filled. I fall far short of being Christlike, which is ultimately what this Beatitude is about.
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