Thought of the Day July 17, 2019 Truth vs lie
What
are other qualities of one who seeks to embrace the first beatitude--Blessed are the poor in spirit? The person is
humble, docile and open to the grace of God in the present moment.
Pope
Francis in one of his reflections says:
“The happiness of the poor – of the poor in spirit – has a
twofold dimension: in relation to goods, and towards God. With regard to goods,
to material goods, this poverty in spirit is sobriety: not necessarily
renunciation, but the capacity to enjoy the essential, sharing, the capacity to
renew every day the wonder of the goodness of things, without being weighed
down in the opacity of voracious consumption. And this kills the soul. The man
or the woman who does this, who has this attitude, “the more I have, the more I
want”, is not happy and will not attain happiness. In relation to God, it is
praise and acknowledgement that the world is a blessing and that at its origin
there is the creative love of the Father. But it is also openness to Him, docility
to His lordship: He is the Lord, He is the Great One; I am not great because I
have many things! It is He: He Who willed the world for all mankind and willed
that mankind would thus be happy.”
In saying this Pope Francis is reminding us about the truth
vs the lie. The lie is that things make me who l am. The truth is my
possessions do not make who me who I am. I am a son or daughter of God whether I have or do
not have. The lie is that God is not sufficient for me. The truth is the only
real and lasting thing in life is my relationship with God. The truth is I am
totally dependent on God for everything. I would not exist if God did not
create me and sustain me. I am dependent on air to breathe, water so as not to
dehydrate, food for nourishment and strength. As Jesus said: “Apart from me you
can do nothing.” Or as St Paul realized: “In him who strengthens me I can do
all things.” I am called to dispossess myself of self-importance and self-righteousness
apart from God. Instead, I am to see myself as God sees me. As someone has
said: “I am who I am in the eyes of God, nothing more and nothing less.” This
is not false humility, but the basic truth. This is not putting myself down but
realistically living fully in my true identity in Christ.
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