"Blessed are the Poor in Spirit" (Mt 5:3) - Teomasino 2015 Essay Writing - Third Place

TEOMASINO ESSAY WRITING CONTEST 2015

The UST Institute of Religion

Theme: "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit." (Mt 5:3)

Third Place, Lina Lou C. Berdijo (College of Rehabilitation Science)

"Blessed are the Poor in Spirit"(Mt 5:3)

According to the UNICEF, 22,000 children die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth. Over three billion people live on less than $2.50 a day. In the Philippines, 24.9% Filipinos lived in poverty over the past 2013. It’s no surprise not to see a reason to introduce the word “poor”. With almost half of the world living in poverty, we ourselves are acquainted with the term. But, this familiarity, sadly, evolves to infamy – slowly being intertwined with a web of connections that brings forth a meaning of negativity, of stigma.

However, Matthew 5:3 presents a greater lesson; a true revelation to the human mind and heart – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We should understand that in the Bible, what “poor” meant also varies. In this case, poor was translated from ptochos, meaning “to crouch as if helpless”; a total state of dependency. Furthermore, the word takes on a spiritual overtone and tells of being poor in spiritual realities – to be helpless without Salvation.

What a paradox it is to behold! Those who dispossess all shall inherit all that is eternal – the Kingdom of God. But why does such a price entail such a sacrifice?

It is only through emptiness can we experience hunger, thirst and sorrow. It is with emptiness that we become meek and be persecuted. For it is in emptiness that we live as Jesus had. 

Pope Francis reminds us the entire history of our salvation is marked by the presence of the poor (Evangelii Gaudium). Our very own Savior lived in simplicity, giving His own self to the vulnerable. We must go back to the ways of Christ and give the poor the friendship of God: His blessing and His word, towards the journey of growth and maturity in faith, for they are those who are in need of God the most. 

As Christians, we are called to take action for humanity, especially the poor. None of us can think that we are exempted from concern for the poor and for social justice (Evangelii Gaudium). And as the call for social justice is strong, we should always have a sense of commitment to the cause of truth, a sense of compassion to the people of God and a sense of competence to proclaim the truth. 

Indeed, we are called to serve just like our Lord, Jesus Christ, who came here not to be served, but to serve. 

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what the Lord requires of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).