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N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 3
by Chiara Lubich
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(Mt 5:3)
Jesus has just begun his public life: he invites people to a change of
heart, he announces that the kingdom of God is at hand, and he heals every
sort of illness and infirmity. The crowds are beginning to follow him.
He climbs up to a high place and begins to teach those gathered around
him, explaining his program for one’s life in what is known as “the
sermon on the mount.”
Jesus’ new approach comes through right from the start. He announces
that those who should be considered blessed are not the rich, the powerful,
the influential, but those who are poor, humble, unassuming, pure of heart,
those who mourn and are oppressed.
This “sermon” marks an overturning of the common mentality,
especially in our society which often exalts consumerism, hedonism, and
prestige. It’s the “good news” brought by Jesus, which
gives joy and hope to those who are “least” and which instills
trust in the love of a God who is close to those experiencing times of
trial and suffering. This announcement of joy and salvation is summed
up entirely in the first of the eight beatitudes which assures that the
kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
But what does it mean to be “poor in spirit?” It means to be
detached from our goods and possessions, from people, and from ourselves.
In a word, it means to set aside whatever in our hearts prevents us from
being open to God and his will and also from being open to our neighbors
by making ourselves one with them in order to love them as we should.
It means being willing to leave everything—father, mother, “fields”
and country—if that is what God is asking of us.
To be “poor in spirit” means putting our trust not in riches
but in God’s providential love. Often we are “rich,” for
example, with worries about our health, with anxiety about our relatives,
with concern about a certain job, with uncertainty about how to act in
a given situation, or with fear for the future. All this can block us
and make us close ourselves off and prevent us from being open to God
and to our brothers and sisters. It is in these very moments, however,
that the “poor in spirit” believe in the love of God, cast all
their worries upon him, and in turn experience the love of such a Father.
We are “poor in spirit” when we allow ourselves to be guided
by love towards others. We share with those in need and put at their disposal
whatever we have: a smile, our time, our goods, our talents. Once we have
given everything out of love, we are poor, that is, we are empty, open,
free, pure of heart.
In turn, this “poverty,” which is a fruit of love, becomes a
source of love: because we are empty of ourselves, and therefore free,
we are able to welcome the will of God wholeheartedly, without reservations,
and to welcome all those who come our way.
To those who live this purity of heart and poverty of spirit, Jesus assures
that the kingdom of heaven is theirs; they are blessed because
“…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The kingdom of heaven cannot be bought nor can it be taken by force.
It comes as a gift. This is why Jesus asks us to be like children or like
the poor who, like children, need to receive everything from someone else.
Then the Holy Spirit, attracted by that emptiness of love, will be able
to fill our souls because he will not find any obstacles to impede full
communion.
The “poor in spirit” have everything because they have kept
nothing for themselves; they are poor of themselves and rich in God. Here
again, the words of the Gospel apply: “Give and gifts will be given
to you” (Lk 6:38). We give what we have and we are given nothing
less than the kingdom of heaven.
This is the experience of a mother in Argentina:
“My husband’s mother was so attached to him that she became
jealous of me. Her attitude always created difficulties between us and
hardened my heart toward her. A year ago she was diagnosed with a tumor.
She needed treatment and assistance that her only daughter was unable
to give her. For some time I had been trying to live the words of the
Gospel and they changed my heart; I was learning to love. Overcoming every
fear, I took my mother-in-law into our home. I began to see her in a new
light and to love her. It was Jesus whom I was caring for and helping
in her.
“She was not indifferent to my love, and to my great surprise she
responded to every gesture of mine with an equal amount of love. The grace
of God worked the miracle of reciprocity!
“Months of sacrifice followed but they were not a burden for me.
And when my mother-in-law left serenely for heaven, everyone felt at peace.
During those days I realized that I was expecting a baby, which we had
so greatly desired for nine years! For us, this child is a tangible sign
of God’s overwhelming love.”
The commentary to the Word of Life is translated
in 90 different languages and dialects, and reaches more than 14 million
people worldwide, through the press, and radio and TV programs. If you
would like to read experiences of life related to this or to past
"Words of Life," they can be found in Living City magazine,
the monthly publication of the Focolare Movement. For information, or
to subscribe, write to: Living City, P.O. Box 837, Bronx, NY 10465. To
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E-mail: livingcity2000@att.net
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visit the website: www.livingcitymagazine.com
© 2003 - Living City of Focolare Movement - P.O. Box 837, Bronx,
New York 10465
Presented here with permission of the publishers