Wednesday of the
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)
Today’s readings provide an explanation of the first beatitude,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit…” The
text of Proverbs explains why one should not desire riches: they make her forget
to seek her welfare in God’s Providence.
The gospel illustrates Jesus’ sense of Providence’s bounty as he sends
his apostles on mission with just the clothes on their backs.
To be poor is one thing and to live in misery is
another. The poor have bread to eat but
little more. Lacking food, the miserable
live in constant need. They may steal,
as the proverb indicates, and multiply their troubles.
Most of us have a good deal more than enough to
live. Yet we likely seek more rather than
give thanks to God for our fortune. In a
sense we become like the miserable when we have much more reason to rejoice
like the poor in spirit.
