As Jesus looks out over the crowds, he sees the people – the poor. They are God's creation, loved endlessly by God, but have encountered the evils of war, oppression, and economic poverty in this world. Some of those listening to him teach may also have been the political rulers (oppressors), the spiritual
leaders, the wealthy and the well-to-do. However, they are all spiritually and emotionally oppressed, disillusioned, tainted and destructed by evil and sin in this world. All of them need God’s help in one way or another. To them all, Jesus says, “How blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
Jesus offers us all the 'blessedness' or saintly status in God's kingdom. God comes to us all in
our spiritual bankruptcy to heal and restore. So, this is the good news that Jesus announces as he begins teaching the crowds.
The first beatitude undercuts the predominant worldview that assumes that material blessings are a sign of God's approval in one's life and automatically flow from one's spiritual blessings. Instead, Jesus teaches that the norm of the kingdom of heaven is spiritual bankruptcy,
unlike the spiritual self-sufficiency that was characteristic of the religious leaders. Our humble recognition that we are ‘poor’ and need God’s help is the first step to a ‘saintly’ or blessed life.
Where do you stand in this regard? In what ways are you spiritually bankrupt/poor'?
Are you prepared to humbly acknowledge your need and desire for healing and
wholeness as a child in God’s kingdom?
Ponder this in preparation for prayer.
