As Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the Church is built, so are his teachings the unifying cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

The puzzle of craving what is right

Why does Jesus promise in Matthew 5:1-12 that those with an appetite for righteousness will be filled? A natural result of mourning the evils of this world is to desire justice. However, if we do not also mourn for our own sins we are in danger of becoming arrogant and self-righteous in spirit, instead of humble. Hungering and thirsting to do the right thing means that we sincerely pray that part of the Our Father which requests, “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Some argue that it is impossible for human thoughts to attain this high standard completely and they are probably correct. Yet, the Holy Spirit patiently works with our carnal minds and pricks our consciences towards this end. Jesus’ promise is that if we crave justice and righteousness, we will be filled.

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