Matthew 5: 1-12 Happy the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven …

In many ways poverty of spirit goes to the heart of the Gospel – it’s the key to understanding so many Gospel readings. Remember last Sundays Gospel? The two guys go up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector … Luke 18:9-14; it’s all about poverty of spirit.

If we are to be received by God we must approach Him in poverty of spirit.

Only an empty vessel can be filled.

Did you ever think about how we might describe God?

Could we describe God as poor in spirit? It sounds crazy I know, but God is not proud. God does not need to be proud! You and I might be proud, but not God. God has no need to boast! So how do we describe a nature that’s never proud, never boastful? Humble? Poor in spirit?

The beatitudes are God’s prescription for sanctity and as such reveal the true nature of God.

God is poor in ‘spirit’ in so far as He never imposes. He must be invited.

God is gentle.

God mourns – faced with His creation’s use of free will, He often mourns. Some, of course, console Him.

God hungers and thirsts for what is right. At every moment of every day God hungers and thirsts that you and I will do the right thing.

God is merciful.

God is pure in heart.

God is peaceful, non-violent.

God is often ignored, ridiculed, persecuted!

Now, if that’s what God is like, how do we compare … how do you compare?