Blessings of spiritual poverty

Luke 6 : 20 - 26

Rejoice.....your reward is great in heaven

Jesus' way - "the way, the truth, the life" is a paradoxical way. The "beatitudes" or blessedness is promised to those who do not get their fair share of 'goods' in this life. The poor, the downtrodden, the ones who come last will be first. This way transcends every trial of earthly life that could otherwise lead us to grief and despair.

At the same time, the blessings are reversed for some - that is, those who have had their fair share of 'goods' in this life, and who consider themselves blessed in life. Is it true then that we should not accept the present day earthly blessings? Should we hold to a severe form of asceticism in order to truly follow the way of Jesus Christ?

Perhaps Jesus' paradoxical teaching is to remind us about the necessity of detachment in all things. Every good thing is a gift from God, but sometimes we begin to hold on to them as if they are the goal of our life. They are merely the means God uses for his greater goal of drawing us to relational union with him. Those who are 'full' of good things may find their hands and hearts incapable of receiving the more important spiritual blessings; while those who are empty handed have space in their hearts to be truly blessed. Their poverty of spirit finds joy in possessing God alone as the greatest treasure possible. What does all this look like concretely in our lives in an urban setting? What spiritual disciplines will help us desire the 'spiritual' blessings that will be our reward? I wish more Christian teaching would help us integrate into our daily living, a lifestyle that will witness to the world the graced and blessed 'way of Jesus Christ'.