Poor in spirit
āBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.ā
Itās the start of todayās Gospel (all of Jesusā āBlessed are theā¦ā sayings). And itās something we donāt really hear anywhere else. So what does it mean to be āpoor in spirit?ā
The whole āblessed are the poor is spiritā thing is both a reality check. And a promise.
The reality check? Being poor in spirit is nothing that you and I have to do. Rather, being poor in spirit is where we are, today and every day.
Every day you and I start off from a place of need, a place of poverty. Lacking what we need spiritually, and (on one level or another) being acutely aware of that shortfall.
If you wonder where our anxiety comes from? This is a big part of it.
We may deal with it in different ways. Trying to meet that need through success or stuff, distractions or addictions. But however we do it, all of still comes from that same place of need, of poverty.
Because no matter how much we want to be self-sufficient (and we want to be), the simple truth is that we are not self-sufficient. And never can be.
God knows this about us.
Godās point of reminding us of this? Thatās the promise.
To make sure that we know this about us. To make sure that we know that we donāt have to handle this on our own.
God loves us too much to leave us stuck. Lacking what we need.
Stuck trying to be something that we never can be ā self-sufficient.
God loves us so much ā that Heās willing to do whatever it takes to meet our need (in case you wondered what Good Friday was all about).
Giving us what we need. Helping us to be what we were always meant to be ā God-sufficient.
Todayās Readings
