Our Venerable Father and Confessor Chariton (350); Holy Viacheslav, Czech Prince; Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev; Who Repose in the Nearer Caves of the Venerable Anthony; Passing into eternal life of Blessed Nykyta Budka (1949), First Bishop of Canada and Confessor of Karaga
Polyeleos
Read
2 Corinthians 4:6-15; Luke 6:17-23
I know that we have heard the Beatitudes many times, even sung them countless times at the Divine Liturgy. There is a tendency to not pay much attention to that with which we are familiar. This goes as well with the Beatitudes as well. Let’s take time to (re)consider all these Beatitudes. For our reflection today, we will look at the first one.
Blessed are the poor – the poor are not blessed just because they are poor. Rather, it is because they have realised that their ultimate dependence is upon the Lord and His Kingdom – for everything. This is the poverty to which each of us is called. Even the rich can experience this poverty. It is being poor that we discover the Kingdom of God and allow it to be manifest and revealed. The blessed and happiness of the Kingdom of God we can begin to experience even now if we embrace poverty.