To hunger and thirst is a primal urge. After a baby is born hunger and thirst is all they know. And it doesn’t go away until it is satisfied. This Beatitude is for a child of God to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to do God’s will. It directs their actions on a primal level.

Those who mourn will be comforted. They search for sinlessness. The past cannot be changed, you can only be comforted in that it was not wasted. It has brought you here where you have found forgiveness.

The meek shall inherit the land not conquer the land. This is expected because the meek are peaceful. They seek peace and have a peaceful land. Their trust is in God.

Thomas Aquinas notes that what one desires has two-fold ends; the thing you desire, and attainment of the thing. For example, a miser desires money and wealth.

This Beatitude says the poor in spirit will attain heaven. The poor seek mercy. And the poor of spirit seek mercy from God. Children can be counted among the poor. Children live upon the mercy of their parent. The poor in spirit are children of God whereby they are of heaven.

The Beatitudes lead to practicing the four cardinal virtues of prudence, fortitude, justice and temperance. Aristotle thought that this would lead to a state of Eudaimonia. This is a state of human fulfillment and flourishing. It is a state of happiness.