Treasures of the Church
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” Jesus says to the crowd that has flocked from all sides 1). In order to better understand the importance and meaning of these words, we must know that this is Jesus’ first sermon handed down to us. He has spoken before this moment in the synagogue where, of course, only devout Jews came, he has spoken to a large random crowd from a fishing boat. All people of Galilee, inhabitants of the countryside. The content of those speeches is not found in the Gospel. So you could consider them a try-out or rehearsal. Now he has descended from the mountain as a new Mozes to a flat area where many people can sit comfortably. Now there are also present inhabitants of the capital, Jerusalem, and the Jewish land around it, and even people from beyond the borders, from Tyros and Sidon. So for the first time, these different, often discriminating groups are all present, in all kinds and tastes, city and country and foreigners. Poor and rich. Ripe and green. A reflection of what the whole people of God might look like. Now also for the first time “the kingdom of God” is mentioned. “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
It is all the more striking that as soon as the kingdom of God is mentioned, the poor take the lead: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God”.
Jesus is not speaking about the poor here as in a political setting, he is speaking to the poor: “Blessed are you who are poor”. So it is a meeting. Jesus and the poor, face to face.
What do these simple observations tell us? I say “simple” because you don’t have to be a theologian or a priest to see this. It tells us that in the kingdom of God that Jesus proclaims, the poor come first. Not as an anonymous group of people you talk about and then mainly as a problem or a burden; no, as persons with whom you speak, with a name and a face. We all know that there is a huge difference between speaking about people and groups and speaking with each other. And most importantly, listen to each other. Because we often forget that speaking begins with listening. “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.” Pope Francis repeatedly emphasizes that looking after the poor and listening to the poor is the core and the beginning of the kingdom of God. For that kingdom belongs to them, says Jesus, so where they are the kingdom is.
This insight is not a recent thing, but is as old as the church. I am reminded of Saint Laurentius. He lived in Rome in the first half of the 3rd century. It was still the time of the Christian persecution. The consul of Rome desired to possess the treasures of the church. Laurentius, as a deacon, managed the church’s money, which was obviously intended for poor relief. Laurentius replied to the consul that he needed time to collect the treasures of the church. I’ll give you a day. If I don’t have them by then, pay me with your life, said the money-hungry magistrate. The next day, Laurentius came to City Hall in the company of a great multitude of poor people from every nook and cranny of Rome. The consul was indignant when he saw all those paupers. Are you kidding me? He said. “Your Honor Consul, the deacon replyed: ‘These are the treasures of the church.’
The poor are the true treasures of the Church because to them, as the Lord says, belongs the kingdom of God. So anyone who longs for the kingdom of God should be close to them and be happy with them.
When we talk about the treasures of the church we usually mean the art in the church and our beautiful buildings that are unfortunately getting emptier and emptier. Treasures whose maintenance weighs heavily on the budget. What we may have forgotten as Christians is that the church does not only consist of a beautiful building and a well-maintained worship service. Nor does it consist solely in transmitting the faith and teachings of the Church through catechesis, sermons and articles in the parish bulletin. All that too. But the Church also consists, first and foremost, of love and respect and genuine concern, first of all for the poor. Out of deep sympathy for them.
Our current Pope himself is simply dressed and on foot on the street. He is often found among the homeless and inmates. In doing so, he proclaims by his own example that being a church begins there. If we want to recreate a vibrant community in our own hometowns, he tells us, we must rediscover the true treasures of the Church, the poor to whom the kingdom of heaven belongs to whom we ourselves would like to belong. A church full of life. A church that makes a difference. It is not just about helping them in need, making sure that no one goes hungry, by volunteering at the food bank or debt relief, or youth care and community work. It’s about being their allies, listening to them and learning from them. Jesus, who is the beginning and head of the Church, teaches us to see the poor and infirm with his eyes, teaches us to look into their eyes, with eyes of love, joy and also compassion when we are often powerless with them. with tears in his eyes.
This is not a moralistic trite talk. It is Jesus Christ’s invitation to look with his eyes and participate in the wedding feast that God the Father arranges for the Son in the communion of the Holy Spirit. Blesses you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. Amen
Martin Los ©
Reading of the Gospel of this sunday: Luke 6:17,20-26
Picture: Christmas diner in the church San Egidio