Blessed Are the Poor . . . in Spirit
Mount of Beatitudes by Sr. Laurie BrinkThe Gospel does not say that it is good to be poor. It says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The Gospel calls us to be sharers, to share whatever we have so that no one need live in poverty. It calls us to be stewards of the earth and of one another.
If I am poor in spirit, I will share lovingly and freely. Do you need warmth? Here is my coat. Do you need food? Come share my bread. Do you need money? I have more than I need.
Poverty of spirit brings us to ask unexpected questions of ourselves and to receive surprising responses. “Can I get along without this?” “I will not buy it.” “Will this coat last one more year?” “I will not get a new one.” With poverty of spirit we know in our hearts that, “What is mine is yours. My love will not let you be in need.”
Being poor in spirit is not a Lenten virtue. It is not a recession virtue. It is not even a depression virtue. It is the way Christ and the Church call us through the Gospel to live all the days of our lives.
Sister Anne Marie Mongoven, OP (Thomas à Becket)