“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”Matthew 5:3

In my last parish, I preached a sermon on the rich young ruler. You know it. It’s the one that ends with the unforgettable saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” We used to have a Bible study immediately after the service. Before we could start, a member insisted that we talk about the sermon. She was obviously disturbed by it. She wanted to know how a middle class American like herself had any chance of entering the Kingdom of God. I was impressed by her honesty. She did not attempt to justify nor deny her privileged status. Most middle class Americans live better than Roman Senators in Jesus’ period. Her sincerity gave the other members the courage to have an open discussion on what it means to be rich in the light of the gospel. We had to put aside our bible study and had a heart to heart discussion about the subject. Needless to say, we did not reach any plausible conclusions. This is not the point. Jesus gives us a lot of things to wrestle with and hopefully in the process, we discover the deeper meaning of the gospel for our lives.

Just for the record, I do not believe that Jesus wants us to sell all our belongings and give all to the poor. I believe that this was something he said specifically to that young man. Although, we have examples of many saints in our Christian tradition who have done this. However, this is not what Jesus desires for all of us. In the gospel of Luke, there were several wealthy women who supported Jesus in his ministry. Jesus never expected them to give up everything. The second important thing I want to clarify is this is not a subtle self-promotion on my part. It might seem like Mary and I am doing what Jesus said. It might seem that we have left everything to serve in the streets. However, we are still rich; I mean, we still have lots of resources. This is perhaps why there is a qualifier attached to this beatitude, “in the spirit”. You can be poor but still be rich in resources. If I find myself in dire straits, all I have to do is make some phone calls or write to the churches and I believe many will come to our aid. During the Pandemic, especially during the period of quarantine, I was confined in a comfortable apartment lacking nothing whereas there were millions in Brazil were forced to risk their lives and work in order to put food on the table. Many have died as a result of this. I had resources to deal with the pandemic. I belong to the privileged class but we know many who are poor in spirit.

In the beginning of this year, we received a call from Kawanna. She is one of the homeless teens who has become a squatter in an abandoned storage space under a highway bridge. It is not appropriate for housing by any means. They lack running water and electricity. However, many families who occupy these spaces usually have skills that enable to get these things through creative means, usually bordering on illegal. This abandoned storage space is divided into tiny rooms and Kawanna lived there with her partner. It is her first real home and they have been there for a year. Often times, they invite the other children and teens to take showers and have a warm place to stay during cold nights. The space is tiny but their hearts are big. Unfortunately, immediately after Christmas, her partner suffered from a violent psychotic episode. Mental illness is common plague among our homeless children. This resulted in a violent physical struggle and Kawanna had to leave her home for her own safety. She was back being homeless again. As you can imagine, the streets is a dangerous for a lonely 21 year old girl. She had no one to turn for help. She called us.

We asked what she needed from us concretely. We assured her that we were willing and open to help her in any way. Unfortunately, all she could do was cry. She was at a complete loss. She had no family support. Her mother had abandoned her since she was a child. Her friends in the street would offer drugs to soothe her pain. She did not want that anymore. She felt that everything was working against her and it was hopeless situation. She was truly poor in every possible way.

Jesus said that someone like Kawanna is truly blessed. Seeing this young beautiful girl in tears with no support and hope makes it seem like Jesus was out of His mind to make such a statement. After all, who in their right mind would consider her “blessed”. We put all our strength and energy to avoid being in her situation. Yet Jesus sees things differently. It is so different that it is hard for us to comprehend. Whenever we read this verse or any other verses which make us feel uncomfortable, we tend to skim through it without dwelling too much on it. This is because we are comfortable where we are in this world. This is the problem. We may not be ready to receive what He wants to offer us. Kawanna, on the other hand, reads this verse with joy and hope. She is ready to receive what the Lord has for her. She has received nothing in this world worth holding onto.

Our homeless children and teens do not have any hope in this world. They do not believe that the politicians whether good or bad will change their lot in life. They don’t believe that education is going to open doors for them. Sad to say, they are right. It is not that they lack ambition nor drive for life. They just don’t trust this world. After all it has rejected and despised them from the day they were born. However, this does not mean that they are hopeless. This is perhaps the most fascinating thing about our children. They still have hope to find meaning and fulfillment in Life. However, they don’t share our definition on this matter. We have our feet planted in two Kingdoms. We like to have treasures in both worlds. Eventually we will discover that only one of these treasures will endure. Our children know that there is nothing in this world for them. They have eyes and ears only for what the Kingdom of God has to offer to them. And what exactly Jesus offers to them?

After the tears have dried, Kawanna, asked us if we could help pay for a night in a hostel. It was a temporary solution but it was necessary for that night. Nevertheless, we had no idea how to find a permanent solution. We were honest about it. We were also honest about our concerns for her. We shared that we wanted what is best for her and will be willing to help her explore all possibilities. There is something special and beautiful about this young girl. We have known her for a while. In spite of all unfairness she had experienced in life, she is one of the most caring and loving girls in the streets. Our friendship with her opened the doors for the others teenage girls to approach us. Kawanna listened and then she hugged us. This was what she needed to hear. She did not call us to solve her problems. She was no fool. She knew that nothing would be resolved immediately. She was feeling vulnerable and lost. She wanted to hear that she was still loved and accepted. For her, this was the most important thing in her life. This is the treasure she seeks to live a fulfilling life. The moment of sadness almost disappeared immediately. Kawanna talked about her interest in plants and music. She showed a renewed zest for life. Later in the week, she convinced her partner to seek medical help. It seems like they are back on the right track. We learned that the things which make life beautiful and special are not living a comfortable and peaceful life in this world but receiving the people that Jesus has put in our lives. These people are the Kingdom of God. These are the treasures which our children constantly seek in the streets. They are open to find them and they discover them in all shapes and forms. Sometimes for us, wealth and success in this world can distract us from appreciating these eternal treasures.

Being poor in spirit is not desirable but it opens our heart to realize what are the most valuable things in Life. In this way, it is truly a blessing. We don’t have to be poor to understand this. We just have to be open to know that the poor have valuable things to teach us about life. We need to have eyes and ear to listen and humility helps, too.