Poverty of Spirit Requires Humility
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
“Because there is a poverty that we must accept, that of our being, and a poverty that we must seek, the concrete one, from the things of this world, in order to be free and to be able to love” Pope Francis.
What comes to mind when you hear “poor in spirit”? It is a bit of an unusual phrase. Are we talking about being spiritually poor? Maybe having the mindset of being poor?
In a general audience on May 2, 2020, Pope Francis told us, “the ‘poor in spirit’ are those who are and feel poor, beggars, in the depths of their being.” In essence, they are those who are able to recognize how limited they are as humans and have the humility to beg for help in all areas of their life; those who have a heightened awareness that God must provide and therefore a greater reliance on Him and His provision both materially and spiritually. “Poor in spirit,” or lacking spiritual possessions, allows us to realize all we need must come from God: He is the one who provides all graces, both spiritually and otherwise.
What Does God Want Us to Do?
Is it not true that we are nothing without God? If He ceases to think of us for just a moment, we will cease to exist. Yet, the world tells us we must achieve, we must accomplish, we must climb the corporate ladder; but do we ever stop and ask, “Is this what God is asking of me right now?”
It is an important question and one that will help us direct our lives in accordance with His will. Maybe He does want us to accomplish something great, or maybe he wants us to live a quiet, hidden life. We need both the great saints and the cloistered nuns. They both have deep value within the Church and the world. As women in business, thinking about being poor in spirit probably means opening our hearts to God’s definition of success, God’s plan for our lives, and possibly letting go of what we think it looks like. It is allowing His plan for us to be unique, customized to our specific gifts, talents, and vocation.
Later in his audience, Pope Francis continues:
“The Kingdom of God is for the poor in spirit. There are those who have the kingdoms of this world, have goods and have comfort. But we know how they end up. He who knows how to love the true good more than himself truly reigns. And this is the power of God.
How did Christ be powerful? Because He has been able to do what the kings of the earth did not do: giving their lives for men. And that's the real power. The power of brotherhood, the power of charity, the power of love, the power of humility. This is what Christ did.”
It is not that having possessions or success is bad. Rather, we need to shift our focus from possession to relationship. We are all called to serve the people God has placed in our lives. Above all else, we are called to love.
Living Poor in Spirit
How might this look in your life or at your job? Becoming a servant leader and walking in the footsteps of Christ is not easy. There will be constant sacrifice. There will be trials. There will also be a great reward. What would it look like for you to live out radical charity, love, and humility at work? How would that change the way you go about the day?
“In this lies true freedom: those who have this power of humility, service and brotherhood are free. At the service of this freedom lies the poverty praised by the Beatitudes.
Because there is a poverty that we must accept, that of our being, and a poverty that we must seek, the concrete one, from the things of this world, in order to be free and to be able to love. We must always seek the freedom of the heart, which has its roots in the poverty of ourselves.”
— Pope Francis (General Audience, May 2, 2020)
Erica Mathews is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Financial Counseling Associates, a family-owned financial planning and investment management firm. She helps relieve financial stress with organization, automation and a plan, helping others manage their finances so they can live as God is calling them to. She lives in Colorado with her husband and four kids; they love CrossFit, rock climbing, gardening, and exploring nature. Erica’s email is erica@fca-inc.com