Blessed are the poor [IN SOCIAL STATUS/SKILLS/ADVANTAGES]....
My estimate is that Jesus meant the "poor" in SOCIAL STATUS/SKILLS/ADVANTAGES; that in this case material wealth was NOT what was on Jesus mind, although usually these go hand in hand.
What brings this to my mind is the student groups of this morning. It is rainy, rainy, rainy today. This subdues the student groups, decreasing the likelihood they will stop by the Vigil to talk, and dampening their Spirits if they do. The 4 groups or so that stopped by were subdued, distracted; almost not worth my spending time with.
The kids as a whole today were pretty brain dead. But as each group left there was one, or three, or four kids that made it a point to straggle behind. They were among the shy of the group, pretty clearly not part of the in-crowd; sometimes with piercings; not that well dressed, not pretty or handsome, physically. But they were moved. They were touched. Their Humanity was EnCouraged by the Vigil. And they wanted to show Kindness, support and Thanks. It was pretty clear to me that these kids that lingered behind were economically challenged as well. But they would place a dollar in the collection dish we have (the same amount as the well healed wealthy adults that on occasion donate), or press a dollar into my hand and say, "What you do really makes a difference. Thanks." or something along those lines. Each time it surprised me; and touched my heart. Maybe I'm here just to touch one, just one of them - casting a lifeline to their Starving Humanity; feeding Living Waters to their Parched Souls. That would be worth my life.
"Blessed are the poor [IN SOCIAL STATUS/SKILLS/ADVANTAGES], for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
My estimate is that Jesus meant the "poor" in SOCIAL STATUS/SKILLS/ADVANTAGES; that in this case material wealth was NOT what was on Jesus mind, although usually these go hand in hand.
What brings this to my mind is the student groups of this morning. It is rainy, rainy, rainy today. This subdues the student groups, decreasing the likelihood they will stop by the Vigil to talk, and dampening their Spirits if they do. The 4 groups or so that stopped by were subdued, distracted; almost not worth my spending time with.
The kids as a whole today were pretty brain dead. But as each group left there was one, or three, or four kids that made it a point to straggle behind. They were among the shy of the group, pretty clearly not part of the in-crowd; sometimes with piercings; not that well dressed, not pretty or handsome, physically. But they were moved. They were touched. Their Humanity was EnCouraged by the Vigil. And they wanted to show Kindness, support and Thanks. It was pretty clear to me that these kids that lingered behind were economically challenged as well. But they would place a dollar in the collection dish we have (the same amount as the well healed wealthy adults that on occasion donate), or press a dollar into my hand and say, "What you do really makes a difference. Thanks." or something along those lines. Each time it surprised me; and touched my heart. Maybe I'm here just to touch one, just one of them - casting a lifeline to their Starving Humanity; feeding Living Waters to their Parched Souls. That would be worth my life.
"Blessed are the poor [IN SOCIAL STATUS/SKILLS/ADVANTAGES], for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
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