Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5:3).
From the very beginning of his messianic activity, speaking in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me, and sent me to proclaim good news to the poor" (Lk 4:18). He considered the poor the most privileged heirs of the kingdom. This means that only "the poor in spirit" are able to receive the kingdom of God wholeheartedly. Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus shows that even a rich man can become a partaker of Christ's blessedness for the poor in spirit.
Poor in spirit is he who is willing to use his wealth generously for those in need. In that case one can see that he is not attached to those riches. One can see that he understands well the essential purpose of them. Material goods are in fact to serve others, especially those in need. The Church admits personal ownership of these goods, if they are used for this purpose.
Today we remember St Hedwig Queen. His generosity towards the poor is known. Although she was rich, she did not forget the needy. She is an example and model for us, how we should live and put into practice Christ's teaching on love and mercy and make ourselves similar to the one who, as St Paul says, "being rich made himself poor for us, that we might become rich through his poverty" (cf. 2 Cor 8:9).
"Blessed are the poor in spirit". It is the cry of Christ that every Christian, every believing man, should hear today. There is so much need of men who are poor in spirit, that is, open to receive truth and grace, open to the great things of God; of men with big hearts who do not let themselves be enchanted by the splendour of the riches of this world and do not allow them to have dominion over their hearts. They are truly strong, because they are filled with the richness of God's grace. They live in the knowledge that they receive from God unceasingly and without end.
"I possess neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, walk!" (Acts 3:6) - with these words the Apostles Peter and John responded to the lame man's request of the cripple. They gave him the greatest good that he could have wished for. They transmitted the greatest wealth to the poor: in the name of Christ they restored his health. By this they confess the truth that through the generations is the part of the confessors of Christ.
Behold the poor in spirit, without possessing silver or gold themselves, through Christ have greater power than all the riches of the world can give.
Truly, happy and blessed are these men, for to them belongs the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
[Pope John Paul II, homily Elk 8 June 1999].
"Consider your calling, brethren" (1 Cor 1:26)
1. Today these words of St Paul are addressed to all of us who have come here to the Mount of Beatitudes. We sit on this hill like the first disciples and listen to Jesus. In silence we listen to his gentle and pressing voice, as gentle as this earth itself and as pressing as the invitation to choose between life and death.
How many generations before us have been deeply moved by hearing the Sermon on the Mount! How many young people throughout the ages have gathered around Jesus to learn the words of eternal life, just as you are gathered here today! How many young hearts have been inspired by the power of his personality and the compelling truth of his compelling message! It is wonderful that you are here!
Thank you, Archbishop Boutros Mouallem, for your cordial welcome. Please convey my prayerful greetings to the entire Greek Melkite community you preside over. I extend my fraternal good wishes to the many Cardinals, Patriarch Sabbah, the Bishops, and all the priests present here. I greet the members of the Latin, Maronite, Syrian, Armenian and Chaldean Communities, and all our brothers and sisters of the other Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities. I address a special word of thanks to our Muslim friends who are here, and to the members of the Jewish faith.
This large gathering is like a dress rehearsal for the World Youth Day that will take place in Rome in August! The young man who spoke promised that you will have another mountain, Mount Sinai! Young people of Israel, of the Palestinian Territories, of Jordan and Cyprus, young people of the Middle East, of Africa and Asia, of Europe, America and Oceania! I greet each one of you with affection and love!
2. The first who heard the Beatitudes of Jesus kept in their hearts the memory of another mountain, Mount Sinai. Just a month ago, I had the grace to go there, where God spoke to Moses and gave him the Law written "by the finger of God" (Ex 31:18) on tablets of stone. These two mountains, Sinai and the Mount of Beatitudes, offer us the map of our Christian life and a summary of our responsibilities towards God and our neighbour. The Law and the Beatitudes together trace the path of following Christ and the royal path to spiritual maturity and freedom.
The Ten Commandments of Sinai may seem negative: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me;.... Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness..." (Ex 20:3, 13 -16), They are, on the other hand, supremely positive. Going beyond the evil they name, they point the way to the law of love that is the first and greatest of the Commandments: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind... You shall love your neighbour as yourself' (Matthew 22: 37, 39). Jesus himself states that he did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfil it (cf. Mt 5:17). Its message is new, but it does not destroy what already exists. Indeed, it develops its potential to the fullest. Jesus teaches that the way of love brings the law to its full fulfilment (cf. Gal 5:14). And he taught this most important truth on this hill, here in Galilee.
3. "Blessed are you", he says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek and the merciful, the afflicted, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted! Blessed are you!". Jesus' words may seem strange. It is strange that Jesus exalts those whom the world generally considers weak. He says to them: "Blessed are you who seem to be losers, for you are the true winners: yours is the Kingdom of Heaven!" Spoken by him who is "meek and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29), these words launch a challenge that requires a profound and constant metanoia of the spirit, a great transformation of the heart.
You young people understand why this change of heart is necessary! For you are aware of another voice within you and around you, a contradictory voice. It is a voice that says: 'Blessed are the proud and violent, those who prosper at any cost, who are unscrupulous, merciless, dishonest, who make war instead of peace, and persecute those who stand in their way'. This voice seems to make sense in a world where the violent often triumph and the dishonest seem to succeed. "Yes," says the voice of evil, "these are the ones who win. Blessed are they!"
4. Jesus offers a very different message. Not far from here he called his first disciples, just as he calls you now. His call has always forced a choice between the two voices competing to win your hearts, even now, here on the hill, the choice between good and evil, between life and death. Which voice will the young people of the 21st century choose to follow? Putting your trust in Jesus means choosing to believe in what he says, no matter how strange it may sound, and choosing not to give in to the enticements of evil, no matter how attractive they may seem.
After all, Jesus does not just proclaim the Beatitudes. He lives the Beatitudes. He is the Beatitudes. Watching it, you will see what it means to be poor in spirit, meek and merciful, afflicted, to hunger and thirst for justice, to be pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted. That is why he has the right to say, "Come, follow me!". He does not simply say, 'Do what I say'. He says "Come, follow me!".
You listen to his voice on this hill and believe what he says. However, like the first disciples on the Sea of Galilee, you must leave your boats and nets behind and this is never easy, especially when you face an uncertain future and are tempted to lose faith in your Christian heritage. Being a good Christian may seem like a feat beyond your strength in today's world. Yet Jesus does not stand by and leave you alone to face this challenge. He is always with you to turn your weakness into strength. Believe Him when He says to you: "My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is fully manifested in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9)!
5. The disciples spent time with the Lord. They came to know and love him deeply. They discovered the meaning of what the Apostle Peter once said to Jesus: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68). They discovered that the words of eternal life are the words of Sinai and the words of the Beatitudes. This is the message they spread everywhere.
At the time of his Ascension, Jesus entrusted his disciples with a mission and this assurance: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations... Behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28: 18-20). For two thousand years, the followers of Christ have been carrying out this mission. Now, at the dawn of the third millennium, it is your turn. It is up to you to go into the world and proclaim the message of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. When God speaks, he speaks of things that have the greatest importance for every person, for the people of the 21st century no less than for those of the first century. The Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes speak of truth and goodness, of grace and freedom, of what is necessary to enter the Kingdom of Christ. Now it is your turn to be courageous apostles of that Kingdom!
Young people of the Holy Land, young people of the world, respond to the Lord with an open and willing heart! As willing and open as the heart of the greatest daughter of Galilee, Mary, the Mother of Jesus. How did he respond? She said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38).
O Lord Jesus Christ, in this place that you have known and loved so much, listen to these generous young hearts! Continue to teach these young people the truth of the Commandments and the Beatitudes! Make them joyful witnesses of your truth and convinced apostles of your Kingdom! Be with them always, especially when following you and the Gospel becomes difficult and arduous! You will be their strength, you will be their victory!
O Lord Jesus, you have made these young people your friends: keep them forever close to you!
Amen!
[Pope John Paul II, Mount of the Beatitudes 24 March 2000]
