“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” (Matthew 5: 3, the first of the Beatitudes in the opening of the Sermon on the Mount.)
To be poor in spirit is to keep up with Christ, not “the Joneses.”
(This is another in the continuing series of “Noon Wine” reflections on the poor and poverty.)
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5: 1-12
KEY VERSE: (3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
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To be “poor in spirit” is to be humble.
To be poor in spirit is not to have an “inferiority complex”; it’s not having a “superiority complex.”
To be poor in spirit is to keep up with Christ, not with “the Joneses.”
To be poor in spirit is to put God ahead of anything else: money, possessions, adulation–anything.
To be poor in spirit is to be God-centered, other-centered, not self-centered.
To be poor in spirit is to be self-aware and therefore repentant, mindful of one’s own flaws, faults, sins.
To be poor in spirit is to understand that it is from God that “all blessings flow.”
To be poor in spirit is to truly know grace–the unmerited, undeserved, unconditional love God gives.
To be poor of spirit is to be “empty” in the best sense, as in empty of pride, boastfulness, self-righteousness.
To be poor in spirit is to be always open, with an open heart, open smile, open arms, open hands.
To be poor in spirit is to live in the peace of hope, not fear, worry, anxiety.
To be poor in spirit is to be pro-God, which is pro-Love.
To be poor in spirit is to be truly free, liberated from every kind of bondage, even if incarcerated.
To be poor in spirit is to be rich.
Mark 10: 13-16: “People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”
John, your writing on poverty and the poverty of our response to it has become more and more powerful. I hope you plan on a book from your blogs. More people need to read this.
Many thanks and the poverty “Noon Wines” are keepers for the book I’m writing, which has changed directions about 15 times now but think I’ve finally found the focus and voice for it. Thanks again for the support.
Sorry, miswrote your name, Paul. My mistake–the challenges of a distracted, middle-aged mind.
I understand, Judy.
Hi Christy,
I am a regular here on Bill’s (WOOPS) Paul’s blog and also have some short-term memory problems (BIG SMILE). I am the same age as Rev. Paul (sixty-three) and those memory slips get worse, lol.
I went to your blog a few minutes ago and was drawn to your piece on “white privilege” and was then moved by your words. I do want you to know that I am going to subscribe to your site – so I’ll be seeing you there.