Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Lent, like every tradition and practice of Christianity, is meant to be practiced radically. However we observe it, the purpose of marking out this period in the Church calendar leading up to the defining moment of our faith is to enrich our spiritual lives and allow more of the Lord to inhabit our souls. Mechanically choosing a comfort, convenience, or even a particular vice and surrendering it for the 46 days does nothing unless we associate the giving up with giving in.
Glen Stassen suggests that we read this Beatitude in a corporate sense as blessing those who hunger and thirst for restorative justice. Our cultural individualism pushes us to focus on our own righteousness but Stassen believes that a better reading is offered through compassionate lenses. Are our lives marked by a hunger to see justice in the world? As we draw closer to Jesus and move with Him towards Calvary, we are drawn to practice the same forms of emancipation that he did. We too can do away with the hierarchy of Church Inc. and point people toward the true authority. We can clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, and give of our time to visit the imprisoned. Our hunger and thirst are measured in sacrifice.
Or, we can give up watching TV for 40 days. No more Friends reruns for several weeks. (They all remained self-absorbed if you missed the ending.)
LOVE | ACCEPT | FORGIVE 