BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

IV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 5:1-12a

Our world is ruled by powerful people who are proud of themselves and their achievements. Power, wealth and fame are the supreme values that guide their lives. And they count themselves among the most blessed since they yield the power to bend society to their will. They behave as if they are gods. However, all that is no more than a delusion. Despite all the efforts, “we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth” (Is 26:18). The arrogance of the powerful leads to oppression, violence and war.

The road that takes us to the Kingdom of God, where we will find rest and peace, is completely different. The prophet Zephaniah advises us: 

    “Seek integrity,

    seek humility:

    you may perhaps find shelter

    on the day of the anger of the Lord.” (Zephaniah 2:3)

To find shelter and be protected from the evil that will assail us, we must approach the Lord with humility. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus puts forward the way to receive and enjoy God’s blessings. The Beatitudes are like the Magna Carta that guides us to be partakers of the Kingdom of God.

Behaving like the new Moses, Jesus “went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”

We may be surprised and even shocked: How can the meek and the merciful be blessed? How can the humble be happy? For the wisdom of the world, this teaching is foolish and contrary to common sense. Is Jesus glorifying poverty and reviling wealth?

What does it mean: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”? Poor are those who depend on others to survive. From them, they receive food, clothing and a place to stay. Every day, he has to reach out to others and implore their mercy. We must do the same before God. We are never self-sufficient. Alone, on our own, we cannot find salvation. We must reach out to God and allow ourselves to be loved and redeemed by Him. We must recognise our frailty, our shortcomings, our failures and our sin. Then, we can ask for healing and redemption.

Let’s heed the prophet’s advice: 

Seek the Lord,

all you, the humble of the earth,

who obey his commands.

Seek integrity,

seek humility. (Zephaniah)

And let’s learn with Paul: “The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.” (1 Co 1:29-31).