Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

When we see the many ways in which God’s world has been broken by sin, we might be tempted to be angry. But the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Instead as we turn to ourselves and see the sin and brokenness there we begin to truly long that all would be set right. May God’s kingdom come.

s a young man, Benedict came from the country to study in Rome. Seeing the city filled with sin and misery, he began to long for God and his holiness. This longing drove him to seek God in solitude. For three years, he prayed and fasted in a mountain cave. There he was transformed into such a burning light that he became like a city on a mountaintop. Even in his solitary hermitage, men found him and begged him to guide them to God. And as they hungered for God, they fed the world.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” —Matthew 6:33

What is the righteousness for which we are to hunger and thirst, to desire as much as food and water? It is a right relationship between God and man and all creation:

With non-living creation: The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night. Psalm 121:6

With the animal kingdom: The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fat-ling together, and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6

Among all human beings: They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain. Isaiah 11:9

And most of all with God: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6