I have become very anxious in recent weeks. The terrible storms, friends with terrible
stories of the culture impacting their lives, and the problems of old age—constipation,
weakness, and pains. Yet my doctor said
I am in great health, and my spiritual director notes that I am most blessed. It was he, however, who suggested that this
might be the work of the evil one --- “Don’t give in. Trust.
Pray to St. Theresa of Calcutta, who saw no answers to her prayers, only
pain and suffering all around --- yet trusted, and loved those in need.”
Then my ex- contacted me with a minor need, and then told me
of the solutions her nutritionist recommended to her, for similar physical problems. I tried them and things do seem to have
improved somewhat. And I prayed to St
Theresa to intercede for me, for the grace and strength to do His will. No matter how hard. And trust.
(And later, my confessor mentioned Psalm 27).
The Catechism in a Year broadcast this week covered the New
Law brought by Christ, and its meaning.
But it was the words of Paragraph 1967 that jumped into my heart:
“In the Beatitudes, the New Law
fulfills the divine promises by elevating and orienting them toward the kingdom
of heaven. It is addressed to those open
to accepting the new hope with faith --- the poor, the humble, the afflicted,
the pure of heart, those persecuted on account of Christ --- and so marks out
the surprising ways of the kingdom.”
Remember, Jesus said how God loves the poor, the suffering
and His little children: “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The catechism is speaking to that in
Paragraph 1967. And so, I’ve always
tried to love those people as He would.
But I remember also that He said; “It is hard for a rich man to gain
eternal life.” Oh, I am not rich, but
compared to the world, no one in this country is poor, so I try to use the
talents and resources He has blessed me with as I believe He’d want me to, and
then trust I’ll be one of those rich men who DO get to heaven. But then I read those words of the teachings
of the Catholic Church in the catechism above, “It is addressed to ….” Did you get that? The New Law, the teaching of Jesus, is
addressed to the poor, the humble, the afflicted, the pure of heart, those persecuted
on account of Christ.” Jesus did come
for the rich also, but having most everything they wanted, they were not very
open to His words of change. Do you
think there were many rich people among the 5000 He fed on the mount? Those words of the catechism are addressed to
me and you. They’re not mentioned much
in churches, because we also have most everything we want, and we don’t want to
hear those words. But we are the rich
people, for whom it is hard to get to heaven.
And in recent years we are more self-centered than ever. But the catechism says as Catholics we need
to become, in our hearts and ways, as those poor people whom we usually look
down on. Our priority in the world needs
to become as theirs is. Happiness in the
world is not what we were born for, but eternal life.
- -
- - - - - - - -
I read meditation 300 in the Divine Intimacy book. It’s titled “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.” Matthew 5:3 notes: “Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
It’s one of the Beatitudes, which are often described as Jesus’ summary
of how to live a Christian life. It fits right in with this topic of how to live
our lives. And the Divine Intimacy reflection I read stated:
The gift of fear, the purpose of
which is to liberate the soul completely from sin, tends to extinguish in us
the desire for earthly things, which is the principal cause of sin. Therefore, it urges us to a life of total
self-detachment so that, stripping us of all selfish proud desires, of all cupidity
and concern as to worldly things, it gradually establishes us in perfect
poverty of spirit. In the face of all
that life can offer us in the way of honors, satisfactions, affections of
creatures, comforts, and riches, the Holy Spirit repeats in the depths of our
heart the words of Jesus: “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast …
and come, follow Me.” This means, not only
not to desire nothing more than what one has, but to give up even this; not to be
eager for riches, pleasures, consolations, fame, nor earthly affections, but to
sacrifice all these things which fill the heart of the world, and prevent it
from being filled with God.
Poverty of spirit includes detachment
not only from material goods, but also from moral and even spiritual
goods. Whoever tries to assert his own
personality, seeking the esteem and regard of creatures, who remains attached
to his own will and ideas, or is too fond of his independence, is not poor in
spirit, but is rich in himself, in his self-love, and his pride. “If thou wilt be perfect,” says St. John of
the Cross, “Sell they will … come to Christ through meekness and humility, and
follow Him to Calvary, and the grave.”
… Poverty of spirit consists in
being entirely stripped and empty of all these pretensions, so that the soul seeks
and desires only one thing: to possess God, and to be thus content, even when
God lets Himself be found only in darkness, aridity,, anguish, and suffering.”
That sounds like the attitude of St Teresa of Calcutta; is
that where my heart is? I look down on
the poor as needing my help, but the catechism notes the reason I was given
life was to learn how to become poor. My
life is not about material things, but not caring about them.
Change my heart, O God. St. Theresa of Calcutta, please pray for me,
that I can truly become poor in spirit, and do not be anxious.
- -
- - - - - - - -
I’ve written about A Simple House before, the charity where
its members live in slum houses, with the poor as their neighbors, to whom they
act with love. They exist
month-to-month, totally on donations. If
more than one month’s needs come in, they immediately give away the excess. And sometimes when their money runs out, they
gather and pray. And God has always come
through.
I thought of my house, my possessions, even the food in my cupboard
and freezer. Over the years I’ve
accumulated almost everything I might need or want. Is that “protecting of my wants” a poverty of
spirit?
Lord,
help me to become who You created me to be.
Help me to really grow in poverty of spirit.
