BEATITUDES

MATTHEW 5:1-16 BEATITUDES
“BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” To be called “blessed” means you are fortunate, you are rich. In the olden times, they called the rich people blessed for all what they have. But wealth could be a hindrance to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is through poverty that we enter the kingdom- as the way to freedom. I am just reminded of the simple life in the mission, when I was in the middle of jungle. There was complete poverty. But I also lived what was once said by Jesus to His disciples: “Eat what is set on the table.” I give thanks to God for the people’s hospitality in spite of their poverty. To be poor in spirit is an awareness of my nothingness. It is an expression of simplicity, not of extravagance. The materially poor are beggars, they have few possessions or nothing at all. At times they require the charity of others in order to survive. They are the disadvantaged in the society. They live in hardships in general. Again, looking back at the mission, there is or there was the absence of comfort, but you have no choice, than to enjoy the little that they have. Poverty of the spirit is to accept my limitation, that “I cannot have everything that I want in my life.” To be poor in spirit is not to take the Spirit for granted. It means that I am always willing to learn and to be led by the Holy Spirit. The poor in the spirit makes himself available for the Holy Spirit, who allows the intervention of the Holy Spirit. When the Father General told me that I have to go for rotation, I wrote a long letter with a big "NO" of disapproval. But then I realized that being a missionary, I should make myself available, and go wherever the Spirit will lead me. Spiritual poverty means AVAILABILITY, To give myself completely and to live in simplicity for the Kingdom in heaven. To be poor in spirit means to live a life of spiritual bankruptcy, that I am spiritually poor before God! I am sinful and I need spiritual healing and forgiveness. We or I maybe rich here on earth, but I am still poor in spirit. As I have said, heaven is the reward. Salvation is only given by faith or by grace. To enter in the kingdom, I must recognize my worthlessness, for I cannot do everything by myself or on my own. I need God. To be a man poor in spirit, I should understand the meaning of "blessedness" as "happiness", that real joy is not earthly but eternal happiness in heaven. The reward of being poor in spirit is heaven. I should understand that the concern of Jesus for me is HEAVEN, not material possessions. If we admit our poverty in spirit, then we get spiritual richness. I lived a very poor life in the mission, but I also live a very fulfilled life, that is a consolation. My spiritual poverty gives me so much richness and freedom in my heart. I am free and happy. Even in this prayer moment, my consolation is joy. So I give thanks to the Lord for this blessing, to be poor in spirit.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Letter to my Mother

Image
Letter to my mother.... Dearest Nanay, I am just missing you. I guess this big and empty space in my heart is because I am longing for you. It has been 18 years since you left and I am still feeling this great emptiness within me. I am so sorry I was not with you in your difficult moments until you departed. I understand the reason of my pain, of my sadness and longing for affection now. As I am trying to process my whole journey in this sabbatical year, this emotion is a constant issue, occurring many times in my encounters with my psychologist. It is because I have not expressed to you in words my gratitude. Thank you very much for everything. Thank you for bearing with me. Thank you for raising me. Thank you for educating me, for allowing me to grow as a good citizen. Thank you for all the efforts, the hard work, for waking up so early to attend for our daily needs. Thank you for loving me. I am a good son. I have good brothers and sister, in-laws, nieces and and nephews.
Read more

PAINFUL JOURNEY OF A JOYFUL SOUL- LETTER TO MY PRIEST BROTHER FR. ATILANO TABARANZA

FR. RAUL B. TABARANZA COMBONI MISSIONARIES CHIKOWA PARISH PO BOX 511276 CHIPATA, ZAMBIA PAINFUL JOURNEY OF A JOYFUL SOUL November 9th, 2006 Dearest Ati, Peace and God bless. I am developing this little essay I made in my scholasticate and turned it into a letter, that you may find it closely related to me, being your younger brother telling you the journey of his soul. I hope that when time comes for my life to turn back to God, you will see how the Lord have winged my soul to sour up in heaven, like an eagle, up in the sky, focus even in the great brightness of the sun. I am sorry, I forgot the author who wrote that: ‘Our experiences unveil part of God's wisdom. They move us to ask questions and to seek answers about our faith, and the intimacy with the "Other." The Lord is always in disguise- in particular events, issues, memories, trials and successes in life. These may seem hard to understand, but the hidden God, in his silence, presents himself in particular
Read more

RAUL, WHERE ARE YOU?

Image
RETREAT ADAM, WHERE ARE YOU? RAUL, WHERE ARE YOU? Adam was not a happy person because he was feeling very lonely. So God decided to give him a company, Eve. Then Adam became a very happy man. It seems like God, Adam and Eve were living in the same roof, and they used to go for a walk in the garden. Their relationship was perfect. And Adam and Eve were not ashamed of their nakedness. One day, God was surprised not to see Adam and Eve, so He called Adam, “Where are you?” God knew exactly where they were, but He called them to have a personal answer from Adam. But now Adam and Eve were not comfortable anymore because they were naked. The hid themselves behind the trees, and they covered their naked bodies with leaves of the trees. That was the start of the BLAME GAME. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent (Satan). They became victims of the tempter. They allowed themselves to be victimized by a THIRD PARTY. They broke their relationship with God, afraid, ashamed, unco
Read more