The readings today touch on subjects that are key to the serious Christian disciple: the use of resources, true religion and the surpassing wisdom of Christ that leads to eternal and even temporal happiness. The Beatitudes beget beatitude.
Sound Teaching
In his letter to Timothy, St. Paul has strong words for those teachers that contradict the sound words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, calling them conceited, understanding nothing, and worse, exploiting religion as a means of gain. Religion with contentment is a great gain, he advises and in the next breath, warns us that love of money is the root of all evil. Timothy is instructed to teach and urge his flock only with instructions compatible with those of Christ. He ends with these stirring words:
Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
Beatitudes
The Responsorial psalm provides the clue for these sound teachings of Christ.
Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.
One of my favorite theologians, whom I have quoted formerly, is Servant of God, Fr. James Hardon s.j. In his excellent talk on the Beatitudes, which I humbly recommend to you with an easy Internet assist, he asserts that together with the Lord’s prayer, this comprises the synthesis of everything Christ wants his followers to do. Fr. Hardon calls these eight beatitudes “an ocean of Christian spirituality.” We are called to apply the beatitudes to our life and practice them. Quoting Fr. Hardon. “The Beatitudes are not an option, but a divine obligation. Having received the life of supernatural life in baptism, we have the strength to live the beatitudes. Woe to us if we do not live the beatitudes.”
According to Fr. Hardon, there is really only one conflict that has been fought in this world: that of the will. The will of man versus the will of God. True, lasting happiness comes from conforming our hunger and thirst, which is our human desires, to the will of God. Living the beatitudes is no simple task – in fact, the last beatitude implies the cross, custom made for each of us, a condition for eternal beatitude. Christ lived out the beatitudes, we will need to prove our mettle in following Him on the Way.
Poor in Spirit
So, what does it mean to be poor in spirit? In one word: Detachment. Each beatitude has a condition and a promise. And with this first of beatitudes, the promise is nothing but eternal life, so we should pay attention, eh? What is the condition? Therein lies the kicker: it is everything. That is to say, everything except the Being for whom we were made.
In my lifetime, I have seen many inventions that have changed the very mode of our existence: the internet, the smart phone, artificial intelligence to name a few. Applying this to our beatitude, all of these have the potential for danger for the Christian soul. Why? Because they have the power to enslave us. Yet, as Pope Benedict taught, technology is essentially neutral. It is neither good nor evil. And we need saints like Carlo Acutis to teach us how we can do great good with these inventions.
In summary: Let us compete well for the faith. Let us cling to the sound teachings of Christ. Let us, in the words of Fr. John Hardon, beg Lord Jesus for the grace not just to believe, not just to understand, not just to live, but also to suffer the beatitudes out of love for God for that is our greatest happiness not only in Heaven but here on Earth. Amen!
