👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾#Anqetse #Bitsuan (“Blessed are those who #hunger and #thirst for #righteousness, for they shall be filled.”)
#Matthew 5:6; #Luke 6:21
(Part 19)
Dear beloved in Christ, followers of the Orthodox faith, we greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Continuing our lesson on the holy Beatitude, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled,” we learn that the true satisfaction of the soul comes only from God, who rewards those who seek Him with faith and sincerity.
✍🏾Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness
✍🏾The fourth Beatitude is translated in some Amharic Bibles as “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Some understand this to refer to those who physically hunger and thirst during fasting, seeking righteousness through spiritual discipline. Because the expression “they shall be satisfied” can appear ambiguous, this translation is used to give clarity.
✍🏾Although we recognize the deep meaning behind hungering and thirsting for righteousness, we continue to use the phrase “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” as it is also taught in the other Oriental Orthodox Churches and is well understood. True hungering and thirsting for righteousness includes the spiritual longing for righteousness and the willingness to struggle for it. A person who hungers for righteousness puts forth effort to obtain it, and this includes the discipline of fasting.
✍🏾For this reason, the teachers of the Church explain that hungering and thirsting for righteousness is closely linked with fasting.
👉🏾Saint Paul teaches in Romans 14:17:
“The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
👉🏾Again in 1 Corinthians 8:8 he says:“Food does not bring us closer to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.”This reveals the spiritual value of fasting.
👉🏾He further teaches in 1 Corinthians 6:13:
👉🏾“Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food; but God will destroy them both.”
Through this he shows that fasting is a work of righteousness. Therefore, fasting and thirsting for righteousness are inseparably connected.
✍🏾Since the purpose of the Church is to guide mankind toward righteousness, the ultimate goal of the Christian life is to attain righteousness. This is achieved through continuous striving. Our Lord taught in Matthew 7:7–11:
Continues 👇🏾