Poor in Spirit

I wonder why the word “vision” comes to mind when thinking of this first Beatitude. Perhaps, it is because the poor in all generations have little to celebrate in their lives and know that their reward awaits them in God’s comfort and arms in the next life. Maybe, those on the lower rungs of society realize that what they receive are gifts from God and are to be cherished beyond all other seeming realities.

Their vision of God is not in the amount of money a person has, but in the kindness that each person shows towards another. When I break my last piece of bread in half to share with my neighbor, both he and I are lifted by the kindness of the blessing. God is right there with us. This is our vision of Love.

Our kingdom of heaven is not in a future time; it is now; it is in the sharing of that last piece of bread so that both of us do not go hungry. It is that vision of love between us that brings God in our life and Love in our home to feed us greater than any amount of money can do.

When we are lifted by the vision of God with and within us, we are no longer poor in spirit; we are definitely sharing the kingdom of heaven.