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LESSED are those who hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall be filled.’ ' Hunger and thirst’ means an ardent, eager, and urgent longing, which proceeds from extreme need.

'Seek ye the kingdom of God and his justice.’ Justice reigns in Heaven, and ought to reign also in the Church, which is often called the Kingdom of Heaven. It really reigns whenever we give to God what is His due; for when we do this we at the same time give, for love of the Creator, all that is due to creatures, whom we look at in Him. By the same act, again, we give all that is due to ourselves; for when we have filled ourselves with God we possess all that we can contain. Then have we fulfilled all justice, as God said to St John.