The Ideal of Christian Spirit

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness (Mt.5, 6)

Famous sculptor Torvaldsen had been working for a long time on a statue of Christ, - but they say when he finished he was seized with great sadness. When someone asked about the reason for such sadness he replied: “For the first time in my life I am satisfied with my work; up until now my dream was exceeding everything that I could ever make; now, when I seem to reach the highest standard, I have nothing to look forward to, nothing to strive for”.

Being satisfied with his work of art, having reached his goal, he suddenly weakened and lost his energy and joy in the future work. Not agreeing with the statement of a great artist about possibility to reach the ideal, which is represented by the image of the Savior, we can not but agree with the depth and truthfulness of the spoken statement. If our feelings, needs and aspirations could be fulfilled by something here on Earth, then we would full to sleep and spiritual growth of our soul would stop.

This law is true in every life. Hunger is a sign of a healthy body, thirst for knowledge is a sign of developing abilities of one’s mind. If we did not have this thirst we would get stagnant. In spiritual life, thirst and hunger, dissatisfaction with ourselves proves the aspiration to the highest ideal. “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness” – blessed are they that are dissatisfied, insatiable and wishing for greater and greater love. This strong spiritual thirst, this irrepressible, flaming desire and striving for the closer, fuller, more perfect communication with God – is a sign of a healthy spiritual life, manifestation of an awakened and revived soul. This tireless desire of the best, this sort of home-sickness, longing for new life and all-around development represents the ideal of a Christian spirit.

This is how abundant is the divine source and human soul does not comprehend it at once and reaches out to Him over and over again in a constant thirst. Is gives the soul satisfaction and delight and by this causes a greater desire to get more.

By filling the soul, it broadens and overflows it so that the grace is in abundance and reaches others around.