BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS for they will be satisfied.

Today we come to the beatitude that gives us so much dynamism to live for justice and righteousness. This was the reason why many do not appreciate Christianity nor Christ. Justice and righteousness are big words in the world and society. But even a small movement can move the whole world. Nonviolence of Gandhiji gained India’s freedom. A fragile woman like Megha Patkar can move the government in thinking of dams products. The small ruder controls the way and direction of the ship. A small bridle controls the horse. Let us see how Mother Clara who in the convent challenged the world to be just in the footsteps of the Master Jesus Matt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Once a person “empties” of pride, sin, and self, then they can be “filled.” This is the reward of letting go and letting God Humility, godly sorrow, and meekness leads to a desire to be right with God! This is an outward attitude to belong to Jesus. But to stand for righteousness is challenging the very nature of God who is just. So if you are on God’s side who can be against you. St Paul says Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Gal 3:27 To gain the righteousness found in Christ, one must obey His gospel and continue to obey the truth or “practice righteousness Ch The world stands in need of liberation my Lord It still has to feel your power The blind and the deaf the dumb and the maimed All need to feel your healing touch The world stands in need of liberation my Lord It still has to learn to love. There are those who have eyes but refuse to see Their inhumanity to man There are those who have ears but refuse to hear The cries of those in agony. There are those who have mouths but refuse to speak Against injustice done to men There are those who have hands but refuse to reach them out In love and charity. There are those who have talents they do not use To build a true community And we know that we all have the talent to love But leave it buried in our selves. Who are the ones hungry and thirsty for righteousness They are the prophets of God • to work for justice • not passively by just avoiding evil • but actively by obedience and doing good • and desiring to do God’s will And what is God’s will in justice and righteousness It means • To strive for wholeness despite our hurdles and failures • To act with the right intention/motivation for others • To follow equality in all our dealings and transactions Those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness are the people who know how to share and give what is due to others. In relationships they are always fair, standing up for the truth. In the words of Mother Clara saying “The Sun Of justice is eclipsed for a moment, but it is to re appear later with greater splendor”. Great courage, the divine Captain goes before us, animating us to struggle with valor, perseverance and justice The Love of God has two wings: the one to the right is the love of God, that to the left love of neighbor: as the bird cannot fly with one wing only, so one without the love of God above all things and love of neighbor as one self, will certainly not enter heaven Let us hear Mother Clara calling each one of us in different situations I hear the cries of the poor crushed by the illiteracy, ignorance, exploitation, lack of opportunities and unequal distribution of the resources… Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord, Is it you Lord?I have heard you calling in the night, I will go Lord if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart I hear the cries of the oppression of culture, intolerant to humanity, with inferiority complexes between Gods people involving terrorism and racism… Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord, Is it you Lord?I have heard you calling in the night, I will go Lord if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart I hear the groans of injustice, of a lack of sharing even with the little we have, a little water, a little air to breathe, a little land to live on… Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord, Is it you Lord?I have heard you calling in the night, I will go Lord if you lead me I will hold your people in my heart LET US PRAY 1. FOR THE UNBORN CHILD- THE ABORTUS 2. FOR THE CHILD- ON THE STREET ORPHANED AND EXPOSED TO THE BRUTALITY OF SOCIETY 3. FOR THE ADOLESCENCE – IN THE SCHOOLS COPING WITH STRESSES AND VICES SUCH AS DRUGS 4. FOR THE TEENAGERS FACED WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, ILLTIERACY AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES 5. FOR THE WOMAN WHO DOES NOT HAVE A WORD IN CHOOSING HER VOCATION OR PROFESSION 6. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO EARN THEIR BREAD BY USING THEIR FLESH AND BLOOD 7. FOR THE ELDERLY WHO ARE TREATED AS A BURDEN AT THE END OF THEIR LIVES