The beatitudes are the content of Christ’s gospel and those 8 principles surely turned upside down the understanding Jesus’ listeners had of the world and society. The beatitudes give us a new understanding of Christianity and a clearer image of God’s kingdom especially as it relates to our understanding of poverty and riches. As a matter of fact, Jesus uses the beatitudes to positively change our orientation about a world that has become so avaricious, revengeful, contemptuous, arrogant and self seeking.
Jesus tells his listeners rather to choose the opposite because the poor would be rich, the hungry would be filled, and the persecuted would be rewarded. What lessons does Jesus mean to impart in this great SERMON ON THE MOUNT? As a starting point, let us consider the first beatitide: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God” (Mt 8:9).
The fact remains that Jesus always associated himself with the poor and here, he declares them, ‘blessed.’ His words remind us in a unique way that God would always take the side of the poor; that the idea of poverty does not necessarily have a negative connotation. However, due to our culture of renouncing poverty, we sometimes perceive these words negatively. It is worthwhile for us to focus on these words as we listen to this sermon. Although an average person desires to be rich (comfortable), to have people under his/her authority like the centurion in the bible, yet Christ said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What does this imply?
To be poor in spirit has little to do with the lack of possessions. It means we must choose to renounce the accumulation of wealth as a source of happiness or blessings. Our salvation lies with God alone and not with material possessions and we must be content with having little if that would create more room for our spiritual upliftment. Even when blessed with material wealth, what matters most in our life is how we share with the poor and avoid contempt and arrogance. The scripture says in Philippians 4:19 “My God will fully supply whatever we need, in accord with his glorious riches.” Accordingly, Christians must realise that what gives us true happiness and entry into God’s kingdom is not our material wealth but a humble and contrite spirit.
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