The Beatitudes are eight blessings pronounced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew.
The word ‘Beatitudes’ is derived from beatitudo, a Latin word meaning ‘blessedness’, hence the name is used to refer to these biblical passages where each verse begins with the word ‘blessed’.
We will consider the first of these blessings which is:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
What does it mean to be ‘poor in spirit‘?
The state of being ‘poor in spirit‘ alludes to an awareness of our own nothingness. We may re-word it as ‘Blessed are those who become empty of themselves for they shall be Spirit-filled.’
Indeed, as long as we remain full of ourselves, full of our preconceptions, preconditions and expectations, obstructed by what we think we know, who we think we are, and who or what we think reality to be, it is unlikely we will truly know ourselves or God.
To be filled with God’s Spirit, we must become empty of all this and be open and receptive to the Spirit and Truth. This receptivity is a wonderful blessing, for through it we enter into the kingdom of heaven, not only in the afterlife, but here and now.
If I know that nothing I am or that what I possess is not my own, but, rather that it all belongs to the Lord, then I become free of all bondage to my self-identity and possessions. Therefore I naturally restore all these things to their proper function, using them for the service and glory of God. In truth, God gives us all these things so that we may have a fit offering to Him.
Someone may say:
‘I clearly am something, somebody, and my possessions are my own.’
To this I answer:
‘Yes, for a little while you are something or somebody and there certainly are things at your disposal, but both your life and possessions are temporary.
Think about this: Who were you before you were born and who or what shall you be when you die? Whose possessions will your possessions be when you die? If you cannot possess these things in death, are they actually your possessions now?’
That is why Jesus commands us:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)
Let us be poor in spirit by being aware that all belongs to God and let us seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness and we will be blessed in this life and in the next.
Amen.