Matthew 5:3 – "Poverty of Spirit" – Kerry Kaino
Questions for Reflection:
1. What do you think it means to be “poor in spirit” (NIV) … “humble-minded” (J.B. Philipps) … “at the end of your rope (The Message) … “spiritually poor” (GNT) … “who depend only on God” (CEV)?
2. In what ways does “poor in spirit” apply to Jesus? What insights can we gain from Philippians 2:5-11?
3. Reflect … “Have we really understood the impoverishment that Christ endured? Everything was taken from him during the passion, even the love that drove him to the cross … His heart gave out and a feeling of utter helplessness came over him. Truly he emptied himself (Phil. 2:7) … He became utterly poor.” (Johannes Baptist Metz, Poverty of Spirit, p. 13).
4. In what ways does “poor in spirit” apply to us?
5. Reflect … “A human being with grace is a human being who has been emptied, who stands impoverished before God … Grace does not erase our poverty; it transforms it totally, allowing it to share in the poverty of Jesus’ own immolated heart (cf. Romans 8:17) … Only through poverty of spirit do we draw near to God; only through it does God draw near to us.” (Johannes Baptist Metz, Poverty of Spirit, p. 21).
Presby 