" Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
Gospel of Matthew
I believe it can be said that people of faith discover within themselves a longing to be fully alive in God. To know God, to love God, to respond to God's love is our longing because we know that this leads to the time and place where we are most alive, most connected to life. Taking refuge in scripture, taking refuge in prayer, taking refuge in Christ and community are ways in which we discover a fulfillment of that longing. It has little to do with getting caught up in the world with all of its expectations, all of its demands, and all of its apparent attractions. It is a turning inward to discover the rich treasure that lies within our own hearts, a treasure that leads to a relationship with God and with others.
The Beatitudes found in the Gospel of Matthew are reminders to us of that reality. "Fixing His eyes on His disciples, Jesus says: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We think of the poor as being deprived of the basics of life. So who wants to be poor? Do you want to be poor? Do you want to go hungry? Of course not! But we are poor, very poor, if we think that these outward things can satisfy the inward longing of our hearts, to be alive with God. We are hungry, and will remain hungry, if we think an abundance of food will help us discover the treasure that lies within, at the center of our hearts. That's why Jesus says: "Woe to you who are rich, you are having your consolation now. Woe to you who have your fill now; you shall go hungry." It's just another way of saying that if our focus and attention is fully given to acquiring things, if our focus and attention is given to satisfy our physical needs, then we will not be meeting the longing of our hearts to be fully alive. We will not discover the treasure that lies within. And that treasure will remain buried under the rubble of superficial attractions and wants.
Those who see the poverty in such outward things search for the fulfillment of that longing in God. For them, Jesus proclaims: "Yours is the Kingdom of God. You shall be satisfied." And this ties in so closely with Jesus' teaching on prayer: "Seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened; ask and it shall be given." These are not superficial requests to have our outward needs satisfied. These are requests to have our hearts opened to the full realization that the Kingdom of God is at hand and that it lies within.
Through our seeking, through our knocking on God's door, and through our asking with humble Spirits, we will experience our hunger being satisfied. We will experience being made alive with God.
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