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 4^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

POVERTY IN THE SPIRIT: THE PATH TO BLESSEDNESS

(Matthew 5:1-12a)

In a world that emphasised affluence, riches, and position of honour, Jesus talks of poverty as a blessing. Who will understand that? In a world where poverty is a curse and everyone tries everything possible, even tries to package to look wealthy. Jesus addressed the poor to be blessed. Poverty is a state of lack, being in need, or not having what one wants. There are many different kinds of poverty: financial poverty, intellectual poverty, psychological poverty, environmental poverty, spiritual poverty, etc. Jesus was specific about the kind of poor people He addressed today as blessed with the kingdom of heaven.

THE POOR IN SPIRIT; Who are they? The poor according to Matthew's Gospel Jesus, meant were those who knew their need for God. They are like beggars for things of the spirit. They gasp and pant for the ruah Adonai (breath of God) They feel lifeless without the Spirit of God. They can do anything to preserve the life that God gives. They can go to any extent to avoid whatever that doesn't give God glory. They are those who long eagerly to be satisfied with blessings from above. They are those who have the wisdom to understand that no matter what the world promises that what God promises is the best. They are those who have understood the transient nature of the things of this world. They may be powerful in the human definition, but for the fact that they know that their power is given to them, they discharge it according to the directives of the one who gave it to them. They are those who understand that the position they occupy today, another occupied yesterday, that they will not be there forever. For this they are humble. They are the wise people who do not feel secure on the security they think they have achieved; financially, medically, politically, etc.  They know that there is a source to all they have, and because of this, they remain under the authority of God, respecting the dignity of their fellow human beings and living their lives without intimidating anyone.

 

WHAT POVERTY IN THE SPIRIT IS NOT

The blessing Jesus gives to the poor is particularly for the poor in spirit.  The message is not for those who take themselves to be poor in the worldly usage of the term to clap for themselves and remain in poverty without making any effort. It is not a call for the rich to allow the poor to die in their poverty. It is not a licence for the world leaders, African leaders and even the Church to continue impoverishing the people and our world through their incentive policies. It is never a promotion of poor in the spirit teaching of Christ to give kudos to the negligence of the suffering in our midst. The poor in the spirit are not those who live unhappily because they do not have money or food and as such are ready to do anything at all without recourse to God. They are not the arrogant, malicious and selfish people in the high and low classes. They are simply in both high and low classes but have chosen to take up the heaven attitude, the attitude of being, the life of the beatitude which keeps them conscious of God as the all in all.

 

BLESSEDNESS UNTO BEATIFIC VISION

The whole eight beatitudes expressed our conditions of vulnerability on earth and our openness for divine assistance to reach our goal, which is heaven at last. The purpose for which Christ took His disciples to the mountain to announce these blessings is to make us focus on our heaven goal and never forget the roles we have to play to continue attracting God's blessings.

In whatever you are facing today, you must see it in the beatitude. After each of them, there is blessings when you pass through them with the vision of Christ before you. They are encouraging words. They help us know that God is in control of everything happening around us.

So, if you're poor in the spirit, you're blessed for the kingdom of God is for you. When you're mourning, you're blessed for God will comfort you. Are you meek? You're blessed even when your meekness is misunderstood as weakness by people around you. When it is for the sake of righteousness that people call you names and make fun of you, he will satisfy you. You are blessed for being merciful, pure in heart, being a peacemaker, being persecuted. All these, when undertaking for the heavenly riches, in the spirit of the first beatitude opens the kingdom of God for us where we shall be with Jesus as the head of the body, the Church.

In our longing to be poor in the spirit for the kingdom of God, may God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You Jesus for taking us to the mountain of the beatitude where You spoke words of blessings for us as a people and for me as an individual. Make me recognise how empty I am without You. Continue to bless us here on earth and bring us safely into Your kingdom unhindered by the riches of this world that have become abuse and distractions for many. Continue to bless us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

Happy Sunday (4th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh