“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
All our readings today point in the same direction. For those who are paying attention to the readings it is transparent. Every homily given today should reflect this message, blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.
The Old Testament, Zephaniah even tells what they look like and how they behave.
“But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;…”
Humble, lowly, taking refuge in the Lord and speaking no lies or deceit.
The New Testament reading from 1st Corinthians continues explains what the poor in spirit look like and brings it home to those who were given this message. Saying you were not chosen for your wisdom or power or noble birth. But those chosen were closer to being foolish than wise. And weak and even lowly and despised. All to show those who saw themselves as powerful and wise and strong their folly in trusting in themselves for salvation rather than God.
And even the psalm echoes that the humble of heart will inherit the kingdom of heaven.
No one saves themselves by their own power or wealth or even own intelligence or position.
For God works with the lowly and foolish to show the rich and strong their foolishness.
And it is human nature to see ourselves as able to secure our own salvation.
It’s true, for it is only when we struggle and find nothing we have saves us… only when we finally cry out to God and say I surrender to you, for I have nothing to save myself… only then do we make progress in securing our place in heaven. Only then do we start becoming part of the kingdom on earth. Only then can we hear his will and see his path.
The lowly are quicker to choose God than the high born. The poor who are always near the end of their finances are able to see easily their dependence on God. The weak and despised in our society know they have only God to rely on.
Today we are called to be poor of spirit. To realize we cannot save ourselves. That nothing we can think or make or create will help us. Only Jesus Christ can show us the way.
Today stop what you are doing.
Let go of things and ideas that you have any real security in this world for none of us do. We only have God. But God is all we really need. For the kingdom of heaven is all we need.
All else will fail us, will decay, will be taken away. We leave this world with nothing, no wealth or clothes or armies. We leave as we come in. Naked, poor, weak, and vulnerable. But as children of God, we have a Father in heaven who welcomes us. We have Jesus as a brother and savior. And we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.
In God we have all we really need. But we first have to let go of everything else.
All the other beatitudes depend on the first one.
It is where we begin to really understand who we are and who God is. It sets the foundation for our journey in faith.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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