BE POOR IN SPIRIT
(Zephaniah 2:3; 3: 12-13, Ps 146, 1 Cor 1: 26-31, Matt 5:1-12)
Beloved in Christ, the readings of today invites us to be poor in spirit. To be poor here does not mean to possess nothing, but rather to put God first in everything we do. We must learn to renounce all worldly materials for the sake of the kingdom of God. Poverty here doesn’t mean material poverty but rather the spiritual one. The poor in the Lord always seek to do His will in their life. They do not allow worldly possessions to blind them. Their joy is to do the will of their father. They put their trust and hope in the Lord.
The prophet Zephaniah in the first reading indicates to us that, those who humble themselves obey His commands, they seek righteousness. These are people who are humble and lowly in heart. They always seek to do the will of God in their lives. “Those whoare left in Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue” Zepha 3:13. Those who humble themselves in the Lord, are the very people who accept their nothingness before the Lord. They know that without God they are nothing. They do not exalt themselves before men, but accept the fact that it is God who has made them who they are. Hence, they strive all the time to put God first in their lives.
The poor in spirit are those who have a humble beginning in life according to the second reading. “For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are” 1 Cor 1:26-28. The apostle Paul was pointing out to the Corinthians that, it was not by their power or might but it is by the grace of God. It is God who has made them who they are in life. In fact, they were nothing in the eyes of men. They should acknowledge this fact and humble themselves in life. The grace of God has brought them does far. Again, he wanted them to know that it doesn’t matter where they come from, once God intervenes their story will change. It is God who can change a hopeless situation to a hopeful one.
The gospel reading which is popularly known as the Beatitudes and also referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, deepens this theme. The poor in spirit are those who are contentedly poor, willing to be emptied of worldly wealth. They seek the kingdom of God first in their lives and not the world. The Beatitudes could all be summed up in the first “Happy the poor in spirit”. The others which are also virtues include humility, being compassionate and showing solidarity to others in sorrowful moments, being truthful and always promoting it, being merciful, being a peacemaker, seeking holy life, and perseverance in the midst of persecutions. We cannot seek to do the will of God if we do not strive to grow in these virtues. It takes people with great humility to put behind them the world and always walk in the statutes of the Lord.
Those who are poor in spirit are not selfish with their capabilities and qualities in life. And they place their possessions at the service of others. They know that these are gifts from God, hence they must be used to serve Him and humanity. They do not boast of them. But the opposite is the order of the day. Some of us behave as if we have become who we are because of our own making. Or we have what we have because of our efforts alone. God has been taken out of the equation. My brother, my sister it is not by your own strength, but by the grace of God. Be humble to accept this fact in life. But for God, you would have been nobody in life. Your name wouldn’t have been remembered anywhere as it is the case today. Some of us boast too much of our achievements in life. Please remember that if the Lord doesn’t build the house, the builder labours in vain. The warning is if we continue to boast and leave Him out, one day He will humble us. This is a reality that we cannot run away. The things we have others must also benefit from it. Know that it is God who has given them to you. Therefore, use them to serve others.
It is also the case that some of us are coming from poor beginnings or families. In fact, if families are to be mentioned or considered in those towns, then ours wouldn’t have been recognised. But through His grace, you and I are somebody in life. Today, when names are being mentioned or families ours are also part. The stone which was rejected by the builders has become the corner stone. This is a doing of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. Just take a moment and reflect on your life. Just see how the Lord has brought you in life. He has been gracious to you. And again, don’t think that it is over for you, because nothing can be done about your situation. He brings life into dead situations, he brings hope into hopeless situations. The poor in spirit are always hopeful in life. They never give up, no matter the situation they found themselves. Because they believe that God is capable of doing anything in their life. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Remember the great things He did in the life of the Israelites and even our brothers and sisters which we have seen and heard. The crossing of the Red Sea, David defeating Goliath, Sarah, Hannah and Elizabeth being able to give birth and countless of the mighty deeds of the Lord. He is so powerful to turn things around for your good. It doesn’t matter where you are coming from. People may seem to give up on you, but God has not given up on you. He will change your story one day. But all these can be possible in our lives if we seek to do His will always in our lives.
Friends in Christ, we cannot claim to be poor in spirit if our hearts are always following the material world. We are to seek the kingdom of God first and the rest shall be added unto us (Matt 6:33). May the Holy Spirit help us to put the world behind and the cross before us. AMEN. Put God first!
Have a blessed Sunday AND A FAVORED month of february !!
REV. FR. Akakpo Matthew
