Hunger And Satisfaction

Beati qui esuritis, quia saturabimini... Quid esurire beati, qui sitire debeant, Matthaeus exponit, videlicet, iustitiam, apertissime nos instituens, nunquam nos satis iustos aestimare debere, sed quotidianum iustitiae semper amare, imo ardere profectum. Cuius perfectam saturitatem, non in hoc saeculo, sed in futuro posse provenire, supernorum desiderio Psalmista flagrans, ostendit, qui ait: Ego autem cum iustitia apparebo in conspectu tuo, satiabor dum manifestabitur gloria tua. Potest et simpliciter accipi: Beati qui nunc esuritis, qui castigatis corpus vestrum, et servituti subiicitis, qui in fame et siti verbo operam datis, quia coelestium tunc gaudiorum habebitis ubertate perfrui. Sanctus Beda, In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, Liber II, Caput VI Source: Migne PL 92.401c-d

Blessed are you who hunger because you will be filled... 1 What the blessed hunger for, what they should thirst for, Matthew explains, that is, righteousness, 2 most openly teaching us that we should never be satisfied in judging ourselves righteous, but every day we should always be desiring righteousness and yearning to improve. For its consummate satisfaction is not possible in this world but it is to come in the future, which the Psalmist, burning with the desire for heavenly things, shows, saying, 'But in righteousness I shall appear in your sight, and I shall be satisfied when you reveal your glory.' 3 It is also possible to understand this simply, so that 'Blessed are you who now hunger,' are you who discipline the body and reduce it to servitude, and who amid hunger and thirst give yourself to the work of the Word, 4 because yours shall be the enjoyment of an abundance of heavenly joys. Saint Bede, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Luke, Book 2, Chapter 6 1 Lk 6.21 2 Mt 5.6 3 Ps 16.15 4 1 Cor 9.27, 2 Cor 11.27