IT’S important that we know there is good and bad
poverty. At the
moment, it seems people know more about the bad one, the one that
demeans us as persons. There’s hunger, ignorance, inhuman conditions
that rightly need to be fought if not eliminated.
But while that concern is just perfectly fine, we should not forget
that it’s even more important to know and live the good type, because
it is truly necessary for us.
Our problem is that we seem to be exclusively concerned about bad
poverty and we appear completely clueless about the good one. We have
to exert deliberate effort to correct this anomaly.
The good poverty can be gleaned from one of the beatitudes. “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5,3)
I’m sure many of us are familiar with these divine message, but I
wonder whether we take it seriously, aware of its practical
implications and really eager to attain the goal it is inviting us to
reach.
This good poverty is meant for all of us, and not just for some who
happen to be more religiously inclined. This is one of the first
battle grounds we need to win to have a proper understanding and
attitude toward this virtue.
The current world mindset seems to confine good poverty to convents
and monasteries. It does not allow this good poverty to breathe in
open air, in the middle of the world. It practically inflicts a stigma
on this kind of poverty. It paints it black and ugly.
And yet, hardly anything is farther than the truth. The good,
Christian poverty enhances our humanity. It frees us from unnecessary
and bad albeit sweet worldly allurements that separate us from our
true and ultimate source of joy and freedom, God.
Especially these days when the world is awash with the effects of
materialism and commercialism, this good and Christian poverty is
becoming an urgent necessity. We have to find ways to show its
authentic beauty and value that should attract all of us.
We can use the new technologies to do that, explaining its true nature
and our objective need for it. We have to wipe away the smudges of
misinformation about it that have hounded it for long.
Christian poverty is actually a happy poverty. While it involves some
self-denial and sacrifice, it on the whole and from beginning to end
is a very positive element in our life.
With it we free our soul, the very seat of our identity and the
linking point between God and us, from any obstacle that would impede
our relation with God and with others. With our wounded human
condition, we tend to have material and temporal concerns dominate our
soul, desensitizing it from its true source and end.
That’s why Christian poverty is not so much about poverty in material
terms as in poverty of spirit. It does not keep a negative attitude
toward material things, but rather considers them always in relation
to our duty towards God and others.
And so Christian poverty can be and in fact, should be lived even in
the midst of material prosperity. It is not averse to earthly wealth
as long as this wealth is taken as means in our total self-giving to
God and to others.
Thus one should not be afraid to be a millionaire or a billionaire as
long as he is detached from earthly things and his is heart to totally
given to God and others. Christian poverty is compatible with good
taste, good grooming and certain level of human comfort.
It is also open to any situation. As St. Paul said: “I know both how
to be brought low, and I know how to abound; both to be full, and to
be hungry; both to abound and to suffer need.” (Phil 4,12)
This is, of course, easier said than done, and so Christian poverty
demands of us constant struggle. We need to continually examine our
conscience, rectify our intentions, increasingly get involved in the
lives of others, always promoting religion and social justice.
This is the only way this Christian poverty can be lived regardless of
the situation. We have to see to it that everyday nothing earthly or
material or temporal detains us from keeping a lively relation of love
with God and others.
If we remain simple, humble and honest, it should not be difficult to
see if indeed such is our condition in any given day. The end effect
should be joy and an exquisite sense of freedom.
moment, it seems people know more about the bad one, the one that
demeans us as persons. There’s hunger, ignorance, inhuman conditions
that rightly need to be fought if not eliminated.
But while that concern is just perfectly fine, we should not forget
that it’s even more important to know and live the good type, because
it is truly necessary for us.
Our problem is that we seem to be exclusively concerned about bad
poverty and we appear completely clueless about the good one. We have
to exert deliberate effort to correct this anomaly.
The good poverty can be gleaned from one of the beatitudes. “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5,3)
I’m sure many of us are familiar with these divine message, but I
wonder whether we take it seriously, aware of its practical
implications and really eager to attain the goal it is inviting us to
reach.
This good poverty is meant for all of us, and not just for some who
happen to be more religiously inclined. This is one of the first
battle grounds we need to win to have a proper understanding and
attitude toward this virtue.
The current world mindset seems to confine good poverty to convents
and monasteries. It does not allow this good poverty to breathe in
open air, in the middle of the world. It practically inflicts a stigma
on this kind of poverty. It paints it black and ugly.
And yet, hardly anything is farther than the truth. The good,
Christian poverty enhances our humanity. It frees us from unnecessary
and bad albeit sweet worldly allurements that separate us from our
true and ultimate source of joy and freedom, God.
Especially these days when the world is awash with the effects of
materialism and commercialism, this good and Christian poverty is
becoming an urgent necessity. We have to find ways to show its
authentic beauty and value that should attract all of us.
We can use the new technologies to do that, explaining its true nature
and our objective need for it. We have to wipe away the smudges of
misinformation about it that have hounded it for long.
Christian poverty is actually a happy poverty. While it involves some
self-denial and sacrifice, it on the whole and from beginning to end
is a very positive element in our life.
With it we free our soul, the very seat of our identity and the
linking point between God and us, from any obstacle that would impede
our relation with God and with others. With our wounded human
condition, we tend to have material and temporal concerns dominate our
soul, desensitizing it from its true source and end.
That’s why Christian poverty is not so much about poverty in material
terms as in poverty of spirit. It does not keep a negative attitude
toward material things, but rather considers them always in relation
to our duty towards God and others.
And so Christian poverty can be and in fact, should be lived even in
the midst of material prosperity. It is not averse to earthly wealth
as long as this wealth is taken as means in our total self-giving to
God and to others.
Thus one should not be afraid to be a millionaire or a billionaire as
long as he is detached from earthly things and his is heart to totally
given to God and others. Christian poverty is compatible with good
taste, good grooming and certain level of human comfort.
It is also open to any situation. As St. Paul said: “I know both how
to be brought low, and I know how to abound; both to be full, and to
be hungry; both to abound and to suffer need.” (Phil 4,12)
This is, of course, easier said than done, and so Christian poverty
demands of us constant struggle. We need to continually examine our
conscience, rectify our intentions, increasingly get involved in the
lives of others, always promoting religion and social justice.
This is the only way this Christian poverty can be lived regardless of
the situation. We have to see to it that everyday nothing earthly or
material or temporal detains us from keeping a lively relation of love
with God and others.
If we remain simple, humble and honest, it should not be difficult to
see if indeed such is our condition in any given day. The end effect
should be joy and an exquisite sense of freedom.
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