"Consider his words, 'Blessed are the poor.' Besides reminding us that the poor are blessed by a God who promises justice for the oppressed, Jesus is also turning our attention to the way the poor live in relationship with God."
Fr. James Martin, SJ, "Jesus: A Pilgrimage"
In his wonderful chapter on the Beatitudes, Fr. Martin shares his own experience of working with the poor to shed light on Jesus' teaching. There are a few things Fr. Martin notices about the poor he encounters, both in inner city slums and in other countries. First, the poor tend to be more reliant on God. He calls it a "natural dependence" on God and with that, a gratitude for every little thing that goes their way. They continually give thanks to God for even the smallest of blessings. Their relationship to God is that of dependence and gratitude. Also, Fr. Martin notices the generosity of the poor. They share what they have with others and do not hoard the tiny bit they may have. I remember Fr. Richard Rohr sharing this too. The poor he worked with lavished him with the last chicken they had to eat. So, when we read today's Gospel on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), let's think about the poor that Jesus tells us are blessed. It is their relationship with God--their dependence, gratitude and generosity, that Jesus admires. Love, heidi
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