Have you ever asked yourself this question and sit still long enough to let it sink into your soul? Sometimes when you become familiar with a certain verse or verses of Scripture you begin using it without giving it much thought or putting true empathy into the giving of a card, plaque or poster to another person. We read something, look at the artwork and say, “Oh! That’s good!”
The Sermon on the Mount asks us to look at the handi-work of God – people – from a different perspective. We speak often about poverty in this world and feeding programs. Physical poverty is very real and people absolutely need to have food, clothing and shelter. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us that caring for the human body isn’t enough, he reminds us that people experience spiritual poverty as well and tells his disciples that the kingdom of heaven will be given to those who are poor in spirit.
When is the last time you concerned yourself with sharing the kingdom of heaven with someone who is poor in spirit? Who are the people near you and even those far away from you that are poor in spirit? What if you discovered that you are one of those who are poor in spirit? Would you be willing to receive the kingdom of heaven? It’s pretty difficult to give something to someone that you do not first have yourself.
Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
In the kingdom of heaven there is no more mourning, only comfort and joy. What has caused you to become poor in spirit today? Are you being bullied? Have you been rejected? Did you fail a test and feel like a loser? Did you receive bad news about someone you care deeply about? Are you worried about circumstances that are out of your control? What is it that you are mourning the loss of today? So often we think of mourning only in terms of death, but we mourn many things throughout our lifetimes. When we mourn the loss of anything we are or have had, we become poor in spirit. Understanding grief and all of it’s components is important in our process of helping to cope with grief. But knowing God in Christ and the Holy Spirit is what we need in order to receive and help other people receive the kingdom of heaven where every is full of the Holy Spirit and in the fullness of the presence of God with Jesus Christ.
Let us pray,
God, thank you for your eternal words and the promise of a heavenly kingdom where there is no more sorrow and all people are filled with all of your goodness and holiness. Thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ who has given us the knowledge of your love and the Holy Spirit. Help us to love one another as you love us, to draw near to those who are poor in spirit help them be filled by receiving your love and asking for the Holy Spirit to come to their aid. Help us to be a comfort to those who are mourning or grieving a loss of any kind. Help us to be your body to represent your presence and the presence of the kingdom of heaven on earth. We ask this for the sake of the building up your heavenly kingdom and to the glory of your name. AMEN
