Ironically, even the Franciscan concept of
“poverty” can be turned into self-aggrandizement. In St. Francis’ teachings,
“poverty” is really his code word for not seeking status and upward mobility.
Poverty for Francis was not about a material end in itself, but a strategy for the
relinquishment of all false power. It seems to me that even some Christian
radicals have too strongly identified with material poverty as an end in itself
(although we could all stand to simplify our lives), and sometimes sought
poverty as another form of superiority!
If you don’t have interior poverty, but need to
look good and be admired and think well of yourself, then material poverty is
not anything admirable at all. It is just another ego stunt. I have met too many
rigid radicals and also very comfortable people who are genuinely and
completely poor in spirit. The best is to be both simple in lifestyle and fully
open-hearted too.
__________________________________________________
Inner world outer world
Inner poverty, outer poverty
Inner righteousness, outer righteousness
It really is all about what happens in side
At our Center
Where we and the Sacred connect
It really is all about being permeated by love
So that we can live love
So that we can be love
Sometimes we get very humbled by this reality
I talk love and acceptance a lot
I think, except when I see people with power
abusing power
I do pretty well at not being judgmental
and at other times
sigh
last night I was reading an article about some
Arizona fans getting wild and upset
after a NCAA Tourney Game
the pepper spray had come out
and so of course did the comments
A respondent said something very negative about
Arizona
And I type a one word response
Jerk
And I got called on it
By at least three people
And they were right
I had gotten so tired of all the negative crap,
of all the people cutting down other people,
that I responded by cutting down another person
not classy
I am sure I do this all the time when I run into
things, and people, I disagree with
“Blind Pharisee!
First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also
will be clean.” (Matthew 23:26)
sigh
sigh again
It is tricky, this journey we are on
very tricky indeed
we often stumble
and fall
and get pretty muddy and messy down there in the
mire
and all we can do is get up
and start the journey again
and go inside
and connect with the sacred
and take care of the inside of our cup!
Blessings on this Sunday
