I once had a very heavy burden weighing in my heart that I went to the Adoration Chapel to lay it down before God. There, I sought to find peace, consolation and hope. In His presence I hoped to find the kind of relief I could never find anywhere else.
After pouring out my heart and finding relief, I couldn’t help but notice those around me who were in that small chapel, too. They were those who also sought God’s help and mercy. They were those who were poor in many ways. Poor enough to notice their need. Poor enough to humble themselves and kneel before the God who alone can rescue them, heal them and give them hope.
Indeed, I saw also that those who came were mostly poor financially. They were not famous or wealthy men. I couldn’t see men of earthly power. Most of those who came were ordinary folks, and those who were lacking in earthly riches.
And then I remembered Jesus’ sermon on the mount and His words about the poor. Here is what the Gospel of Luke says:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.”
– Luke 6:20 (NABRE)
In recent times, many explanations seek to emphasize spiritual poverty, which is what we can find in Matthew:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
– Matthew 5:3 (NABRE)
Still, I can’t help but realize how actual material poverty helps us to realize our spiritual miseries.
Isn’t it true that we often forget God in times of comfort and security? When we are so busy with earthly possessions, we hardly notice the need to come to God and plead for His mercy.
Poverty, on the other hand, reminds us of our dependence on God. In a way, it draws us to Him like children who need their Father.
When we read the Bible, we’d see that those who came to Jesus first were those who were literally poor. He called fishermen and ate with prostitutes. He healed lepers and those considered as outcasts. He was close to those who were oppressed, exploited and hungry. While He did not exclude the rich and He may have had wealthy followers also, the majority of those who came were those who were poor and lowly in the eyes of men.
When one rich man came to Him and asked what he must do to have eternal life, he had a hard time following what Jesus told him to do.
“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”- Matthew 19:21-24 (NABRE)
The earthly wealth of the man prevented him from having spiritual poverty, and his possessions prevented him from being free enough to follow Jesus Christ.
It is not that God wants us to be poor. But if our riches prevent us from following Him, what is the use of such wealth?
“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” – Mark 8:36 (NABRE)
While Jesus Himself also said that there is nothing impossible with God, we must not risk our souls when it comes to material possessions. It is easy to assume that we are spiritually poor while having earthly riches, but let us not be negligent of the dangers of too much wealth.
If you are living a rich and comfortable life right now, ask yourself these questions:
Am I placing my security in these riches or in God?
How much time do I actually devote to prayer as compared with the time I spend managing my possessions?
Do I have more than I need? Am I helping the poor enough?
What kind of treasure am I busier searching for each day?
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” – Matthew 6:19-21 (NABRE)
Let us not be among those who are too rich to come to the Lord; those who are too full to be filled by God Himself. Everyday, may we be reminded of our mortality and how our life can suddenly come to an end.
We are all poor. But those who do not see their true poverty because they have illusions of security are deceived. We must learn to look at our hearts in the light of Christ and pray that we may be more in touch with our own poverty.
Only by realizing our miseries can we truly cry out to God, asking Him for His mercy and His everlasting providence.
“I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth that I may fill it.”
– Psam 81:11 (NABRE)
Let those who are poor find their hope in God. Let Jesus be the light amid their darkness, the strength that upholds them in their troubles and the peace that surpasses our understanding.
Come to Jesus, all those who are blessed!
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.”
– Luke 6:20-21 (NABRE)
Also read “Is God Telling Us to Be Poor?”
Jocelyn Soriano is the author of Mend My Broken Heart, Defending My Catholic Faith and 366 Days of Compassion.
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