Lest You Remain

thing, is not blessed but poor. But the one who abounds in riches is blessed, when he does not lose his heart in them. About them the Apostle says: “We seem to have nothing, yet everything is ours” (2 Cor. 6:10). Do not think that one who left everything for the love of Christ, yet kept a great desire to possess some trifle or honor, or fame for one’s name, is truly poor in spirit! Such poverty is false-hearted! He cheats himself! You will be blessed and become truly poor, when you are content with Jesus alone, whom you receive in the Blessed Sacrament. Ask Him, together with Saint Bonaventure, to become a part of you, your heritage and your treasure, in which you set and root your mind and heart for ever. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 3 Realize that Divine Wisdom placed this blessing, [“Blessed are the poor in spir- it for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”] (Mt. 5:3) in the first place. She did it for no other reason than to show that among all the others, this one is most pleasing to Her. St. Basil says: “He wanted to be born of a poor Mother, in a poor stable, and wrapped in paltry swaddling clothes be placed in a manger” (c.f. Luke 2:7). To explain that poverty does not mean a lack of possessions, Christ said that blessed are the “poor in spirit.” So He taught that, the one who possesses many things, but is not emotionally attached to them, believing them to be transient goods that were given to him to be generously passed to the needier, is also poor and enjoys the blessing of poverty. You should follow the path of the Apostles, who were told to make do without even a walking staff and a traveling bag, while traveling the world in different direc- tions. In practicing extreme poverty, do no be afraid that you will lack anything. ( Inspectio Cordis ) 4 Contemplate that, for these who want to follow Christ, the greatest obstacle lies in riches, in friends and in all that they love apart from God. Thus He said to the young man seeking perfection and yearning for eternal life: “Sell your posses- L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 150