Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Matthew. 5:3)

  Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Matthew. 5:3)
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On the basis of economic condition the human race can be divided into two categories: the rich and the poor.

The rich are those people who are economically well to do with more than enough of money and wealth.

The poor are those people who are either below the poverty line or just above the poverty line, including the middle class ones.

Based on the spiritual condition the human race can be divided into two categories: the rich in spirit and the poor in spirit.

The rich in spirit are those people who want themselves to be economically rich; they may be economically rich or poor.

That means, some people are attached to the wealth they have and this attachment makes them slaves of their wealth.

Some people have no wealth,

but spiritually attached to the wealth they don’t have.

Such economically poor people love wealth

and are ready to resort to any means, moral or immoral, to earn it.  

 

The poor in spirit may be economically rich or poor, but they are detached from the wealth they may or may not have. 

They are attached only to God and things pertaining to God.

We cannot serve two masters.

We can serve either God or money.

If we are attached to money we cannot serve God.

If we are attached to God we will use the money we have in the service of God.

 

Jesus is the owner of the whole universe as He is its creator, but He has no attachment to it.

He chose to be born of a poor Virgin in a stable,

grow as a poor carpenter,

live with no placc to lay His head during His public life,

die on a wooden cross

and be buried in another man's grave.

He uses the universe for us, His human brothers and sisters.

King Herod who tried to kill Him lived in a magnificent palace,

but Jesus chose to be born in a poor stable.

 

He wants His followers to be like Him.

That was why He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

We may be very rich with plenty of money and property.

But we must be poor in spirit.

We must have no attachment to money.

We must use the money we have both for our welfare and our neighbours’ welfare.

We should share what we have with the have-nots.

One who has no attachment to money will not be worried even if it is lost.

He will say with Job, “God gave me, God has taken it away, praised be His name.”

Such people may be in the world, but they are not of the world.

Jesus has said “It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye, than for a man to enter the kingdom of God when he is rich”.(Mark.10:25)

It is possible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven

if they are poor in spirit, in obedience to the words of Jesus.

“Oh Jesus, we are by our fallen nature attached to the worldly things.

Kindly give us your grace to detach ourselves from this world and live for You and You alone.

Make us poor in spirit so that we may be rich in heaven.”

Lourdu Selvam.