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| JESUS SAID, "BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT." Image from oasischristianchurch.org |
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
- Matthew 5:3
Poverty in spirit could mean simplicity of life. The poor in spirit are those who are beggars before God even though they may not be financially or economically poor in reality. They are humble ones who do acknowledge their dependence upon the Lord.
Poverty and simplicity would mean one and the same in this respect. The financially or economically poor may be deprived of wealth or richness, but they may be ambitiously aiming for such that they become outside of the category of those who would possess the Kingdom of Heaven. For people may be financially or economically rich and wealthy but their hearts long for God and they use their wealth in order to help others and they themselves avoid the luxuries that they could possibly enjoy with their wealth.
Of course, ideally, the person who is truly poor both in spirit and in his or her social standing, would be the best example of following the Lord for that's what He told the rich young man who asked how he would be able to attain eternal life [see Matthew 19: 16-30; Mark 10: 17-31; Luke 18: 18-30]. People who respond to the religious life also follow the same admonition to live their families and if ever, to sell their belongings and give to the poor.
But for most of us, poverty in spirit can be expressed through simplicity of life. It would mean ensuring that we have the basic needs [which we could still generously share with others who would be in much more need than us if a situation calls for it], undisturbed by things that neo-pagans greatly desire [such as the newest gadgets and most updated equipment even when we do not really need them], and being contented by the simple happiness in life such as being with family, having time to share about the essential things in life with friends, and others that require not much expense or complex preparations.
It's been said that if we love someone, we give him or her the best. But the best does not have to be too expensive or too ambitious. Most of the time, the best are those which are intangible and non-physical such as time, companionship, sharing of one's spiritual growth and journey, etc. Many times we take these things for granted and only come to realize their essence when the object of our live can't enjoy them anymore.
Poverty and simplicity are important ingredients of our friendship with the Lord. For He himself, though the reason for the being of everything, owned nothing here on earth. It was through Him that everything were made, being the Word through whom the Father created all, and yet He possessed only the clothes He were His entire stay on earth. When He died, He even has to be buried in a borrowed tomb! Through being poor and simple, we can focus more our attention about doing His will on earth.
Furthermore, it is when we have no possessions that we can move freely and do so much more for we have nothing to think of or care about as to being lost, stolen or damaged. The more possessions that we have, the less our capability to make ourselves available to the needs of others. For the person who has so much, cares for these so much more; while the person who has not, has time to care for those who are in need. Of course we can have the basic things in order to go about our daily responsibilities and simple manner of living for it would be impossible to need something unless we live away from civilization or care nothing about basic hygiene and the duty to care for our body too unless we'd intend to make these things our fundamental goal in life to the detriment of more important things!
Let us be simple and perfectly live in freedom from wants.
Poverty and simplicity would mean one and the same in this respect. The financially or economically poor may be deprived of wealth or richness, but they may be ambitiously aiming for such that they become outside of the category of those who would possess the Kingdom of Heaven. For people may be financially or economically rich and wealthy but their hearts long for God and they use their wealth in order to help others and they themselves avoid the luxuries that they could possibly enjoy with their wealth.
Of course, ideally, the person who is truly poor both in spirit and in his or her social standing, would be the best example of following the Lord for that's what He told the rich young man who asked how he would be able to attain eternal life [see Matthew 19: 16-30; Mark 10: 17-31; Luke 18: 18-30]. People who respond to the religious life also follow the same admonition to live their families and if ever, to sell their belongings and give to the poor.
But for most of us, poverty in spirit can be expressed through simplicity of life. It would mean ensuring that we have the basic needs [which we could still generously share with others who would be in much more need than us if a situation calls for it], undisturbed by things that neo-pagans greatly desire [such as the newest gadgets and most updated equipment even when we do not really need them], and being contented by the simple happiness in life such as being with family, having time to share about the essential things in life with friends, and others that require not much expense or complex preparations.
It's been said that if we love someone, we give him or her the best. But the best does not have to be too expensive or too ambitious. Most of the time, the best are those which are intangible and non-physical such as time, companionship, sharing of one's spiritual growth and journey, etc. Many times we take these things for granted and only come to realize their essence when the object of our live can't enjoy them anymore.
Poverty and simplicity are important ingredients of our friendship with the Lord. For He himself, though the reason for the being of everything, owned nothing here on earth. It was through Him that everything were made, being the Word through whom the Father created all, and yet He possessed only the clothes He were His entire stay on earth. When He died, He even has to be buried in a borrowed tomb! Through being poor and simple, we can focus more our attention about doing His will on earth.
Furthermore, it is when we have no possessions that we can move freely and do so much more for we have nothing to think of or care about as to being lost, stolen or damaged. The more possessions that we have, the less our capability to make ourselves available to the needs of others. For the person who has so much, cares for these so much more; while the person who has not, has time to care for those who are in need. Of course we can have the basic things in order to go about our daily responsibilities and simple manner of living for it would be impossible to need something unless we live away from civilization or care nothing about basic hygiene and the duty to care for our body too unless we'd intend to make these things our fundamental goal in life to the detriment of more important things!
Let us be simple and perfectly live in freedom from wants.
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