I am super impressed with a book I've been reading, The Way of Beatitude, Living Radical Hope in a World of Division and Despair. It's by Casey Cole, OFM and recently published in 2022.
In it, the author speaks about his own experiences with each of the nine beatitudes in the Bible, gives a little theological background, then presents questions for reflection AND suggestions on how to live out each beatitude. I'm on the first one, blessed are the poor in spirit. He writes about the spirit of poverty as an experience of being dependent and needing to rely on others, ultimately upon God.
One practical example the author suggests to develop a spirit of poverty is to begin a project for which you have no skills. (That takes trust!) Experience the stress and frustration of trying to do it on your own, and then the humility it takes to reach out to someone for help.
Another example is to give away something - not an item which you no longer use and "no longer gives you joy," but something you really like. Better still, give away something you need. This is a way of feeling poverty and identifying with those who are truly poor.
Well, I have a brand new pair of Darn Tough socks. I got them for free and I really, really like them. So I've been sensing the Lord saying to me that I need to give these away to my daughter. What a very small sacrifice. Very, very small. Just to think about giving them away, however, makes me feel a sense of loss. Over a pair of socks. But I will do it. She may not even like them, but that's not the point. I need to give them away.
I am thinking about re-claiming Friday for myself as a day of penance. Perhaps Friday is a day I can focus on living a spirit of poverty, a spirit of generosity and of healthy reliance on others. (More on that another time.)
For now I need to go and wrap up those socks. 😊
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3.
I have several pairs of Darn Tough Socks and appreciate your sacrifice! Thankfully, my girls prefer the Smart Wool brand, so I don't have consider this!
ReplyDeleteIn the spirit of the beatitude, however, I try to do my best to share my time. I have several people, mainly homebound but not all, who frequently need a listening ear. When they call, I drop everything to listen and give comfort. In these days of continued isolation, just being present even if it's just a phone call, can be a great gift.
As to Fridays, we make them meatless, not that that in itself is a sacrifice, but because it does make us think about why we are doing it - basically a day of Lent every week. Actually, when Vatican II removed the Friday obligation, it was with the expectation that everyone would do something else to acknowledge the day!