The Spirituality of Poverty
Before Jesus began his ministry, the desert. Before his resurrection, the crucifixion. Before the Promised Land, Israel in the wilderness. Before Peter began his ministry, his betrayal of Christ. Before St Benedict founded his order, three years in a cave. Before St Francis founded his, months of prayer, agony, and deprivation. Before God leads his people into the Kingdom, he leads them into deprivation and poverty. As Julian of Norwich put it, "And the harder our pains have been with him in his Cross, the more shall our worship be with him in his Kingdom." We may not have the courage to embrace Lady Poverty as did St. Francis, but we can come closer to the Kingdom by coming to know the Crucified in the poor.

At least three things can happen when one is confronted with real poverty. One is blessed by knowing sin, repentance, and forgiveness, one is made aware of deep inner wounds and the need for healing, and one is shown the true nature of love and given the authority to build God's Kingdom.

If still alive, a sinful and wounded person recoils at the sight of abject poverty. Up against real poverty the privileges of life, vacations, cars, nice home, entertainment, insurance, savings, affluent friends, and social status are seen in a very different light. They are robbery of those who have virtually nothing. Anyone who really faces the poor can see this and see their own sin in the matter. Further, the sight of the poor arouses feelings of antipathy because their wretchedness touches the deepest wounds of the soul. Things long buried begin to emerge rejection, loss, insults, sorrow, helplessness, guilt, violence, and despair. Under these conditions the soul cries out to God for forgiveness and healing. Finally, the poor have nothing. They are rejected, hungry, thirsty, and alone. They are like Christ on the cross. On the cross we see the true nature of love.

God hears those who cry out to him. He pours out his love through the wounds of Christ as seen in the poor. He forgives sin, heals the heart, and reveals the true nature of love as the giving up of everything for the beloved. Then a person is converted in the deepest sense. He or she is given a new way of life with different priorities. Above all, God grants the authority to establish his Kingdom on earth as in heaven.

Wealth blocks conversion. Material wealth, an attractive personality, and social status remove us from the poor and deprive us of knowing our sins up front and personal. Wealth robs us of the opportunity of perceiving our inner wounds by providing an environment of apparent well being. And finally, wealth defeats love by producing the illusion of love. In a sea of affluence love degrades into reciprocal exchanges among whose who have plenty. Given these disadvantages, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. God can do something about this, but not before he makes one poor. If he does not make one financially or socially poor, he will at least make one poor in spirit. (Plenteous Harvest, November, 1996.)
 Comment
This essay relates to several other essays, Isaiah 6:1-11, the baptism of the Spirit and Fire, and the vision of God.  They are related because poverty, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire, and the vision of God all belong together. By means of a spiritual baptism and the recognition of one's poverty before God, God lifts up a person so that can see and hear him. This event of coming before the throne of God, however, is not granted because one has become perfectly pure and fully sanctified. Poverty means knowing that one is a sinner. Sin is never fully conquered in this life. The closer we come to God, the more we know we are sinners. Sinners can enter the throne room of God because the wounds of Jesus Christ are the door. Through his cross and resurrection, and by his sanctifying Spirit, and in that order, believers can know God and see him face to face. In the words of Jesus, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." This blessing is above measure and needs to sought by all Christians.

The Rev. Robert J. Sanders, Ph.D.
November, 1996

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