April 1, 2021 By Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6 Unlike the Ten Commandments, which dictate what we should not do, the Beatitudes advise us about what we should do to be in the right relationship with each other. Jesus’ teachings help us to understand the benefit of being righteous by encouraging us to be agents of justice, mercy, and love—not only toward humanity, but to all of creation. Mathew 5:6 teaches us that it is not enough for us to invite and profess righteousness; we must make actual investments through our actions to demonstrate our commitment to righteousness. In this scripture, the words hunger and thirst remind us of the urgency of addressing the physical weakness that accompanies lack food or water. These same words emphasize the urgency of craving for righteousness, which leads to sustainable spiritual life.