Poor in Spirit

statueoflibertyLiving in the Spirit
September 11, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-10

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ –Luke 15:8-10

The poor have always been with me as Jesus predicted. (Mark 4:7) My mother always held the poor close to her heart. She helped them in any way she could. Her empathy played a part in my becoming a social worker and an advocate for justice. So, I understand the message Jesus brings in his story of the woman with ten silver coins. The loss of one coin could mean disaster for her family. Jesus also said to provide food and clothing for those in need. (Matthew 25:35-40) and Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20) Matthew quotes a similar speech saying poor in spirit, which probably has a broader scope, but I guess the woman who lost the coin felt both poor and poor in spirit from the loss.

We do not pay much attention to the poor of any kind. Our society cares more about wealth. The difference in being poor in spirit because you do not know where your evening meal will come from and have no food for your children, and being poor in spirit because your stocks lost ground are not the same. The promised kingdom of God assures enough for everyone, and calls us to partner in its realization.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!“*

Prayer: Lord, make your priorities our priorities as we week to make your vision a reality. Amen.

*Lines from the poem The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus engraved on the Statue of Liberty. See at http://www.libertystatepark.com/emma.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.