蜜桃交友

By Christopher Wells

In his catechesis on the first Beatitude 鈥� 鈥淏lessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven鈥� 鈥� Pope Francis said 鈥渢here is a poverty that we must accept, that of our own being; and a poverty that we must seek instead, from the things of this world鈥�.

A paradoxical proclamation

Jesus鈥� 鈥渨ay to happiness鈥�, the Pope said, begins with a 鈥減aradoxical proclamation鈥� a strange object of bliss鈥�. So we must ask ourselves, What is meant by the word 鈥減oor鈥�? Matthew鈥檚 use of the expression 鈥減oor in spirit鈥� shows us that Jesus is not talking simply about economic poverty, but of a spiritual understanding of our poverty. 鈥淭hose who are 鈥榩oor in spirit鈥欌��, the Pope said, 鈥渁re those who are and who feel themselves to be poor, beggars, in the depths of their being鈥�.
 

This is contrary to the message of the world, which tells us we have to make something of ourselves. This attitude leads to 鈥渓oneliness and unhappiness鈥�, because it sets us in competition with others, so that we 鈥渓ive in obsessive concern for [our own] ego鈥�. Jesus, though, tells us that 鈥渢o be poor is an occasion of grace, and He shows us the way out鈥� of the fatigue caused by trying to hide our limitations and failings.

We are already poor

Pope Francis said, though, that we must remember that we 鈥渄on鈥檛 have to transform ourselves to become poor in spirit, because we are already poor! We are all poor in spirit, beggars鈥�.

The kingdoms of the world, possessed by those who have wealth and comfort, are kingdoms that end. 鈥淭he power of human beings, even the greatest empires, pass and disappear鈥�, the Pope said. On the contrary, it is the one 鈥渨ho knows how to love the true good more than himself鈥� who truly reigns. This, he said, 鈥渋s the power of God鈥�; and this is how Christ shows Himself to be powerful: 鈥淗e knew how to do what the kings of the earth do not: to give His life for human beings. And this is true power: the power of fraternity, the power of charity, the power of love, the power of humility. This is what Christ did".

And, the Pope continued, 鈥渢rue freedom lies in this: the one who has this power of humility, of service, of fraternity is free. The poverty praised by the Beatitudes lies at the service of this freedom鈥�. He concluded his catechesis by saying "we must always seek this freedom of the heart, which has its roots in the poverty of ourselves".