Chapter 3: In the Light of the Master
We turn now to the individual beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The Gospel invites us to peer into the depths of our hearts to see where we find our security in life. Usually the rich find security in their wealth and think that if that wealth is threatened, the whole meaning of their earthly life can collapse…Wealth ensures nothing. Indeed, once we think we are rich, we can become so self-satisfied that we leave no room for God’s word, for the love of our brothers and sisters or for the enjoyment of the most important things in life. In this way we miss out on the greatest treasure of all. That is
why Jesus calls blessed those who are poor in spirit, those who have a poor heart, for there the Lord can enter with perennial newness.
Being poor of heart: that is holiness.