POOR IN SPIRIT AS MOTHER CLARA

As we begin the novena to Mother Clara we will reflect on the essence of our lives. Being Franciscan Hospitaller we are called to live the spirit of beatitudes in our daily lives through our thoughts, words and deeds. Let us peep into the Gospel and together with Mother Clara let us hear what Jesus wants to tell each one of us. Let us climb the mountain of the Lord to listen to a way of life He is calling us to. Jesus outlined eight formulas, those that we commonly call today “The Eight Beatitudes.” These are found in the 5th Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. They are like a “preamble” to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5, 6, & 7). Beatitudes comes from the Latin word “beatus,” meaning happy. So beatitudes refers to those ways or “attitudes” that we must possess in order to attain true happiness. Let us go over these eight secrets or formulas of happiness – and discover the beauty and the wisdom of Jesus’ mission to live our life in paradox to the world. BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This is a call for inward renewal Who are the poor in spirit… who are the poor of Yahweh? Let us look at Mary the Mother of Jesus Poor in spirit also means like Mary  She is conscious of her need of God. Do You Need God?  She accepts everything coming from God, with empty hands  She is the opposite of self-exaltation  She sings the magnificat of her life. I delight greatly in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God – 2 1. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, And arrayed with me in a robe of righteousness (2) 2. For he has sent me to heal the broken hearted And proclaim to prisoners that they are free (2) 3. For God’s own spirit is poured upon his servant, He’s anointed me with oil of gladness(2) Poor in spirit can also mean like Francis  who continuously finds his strength in God alone  who has an attitude of gratefulness towards God who is the source of all blessings flowing into a life of generosity and service  They are also the people to whom nothing is more important than God. They rely on God and God alone for everything. Good Lady Poverty, come be my bride Forever you and me walk side by side Teach me your wisdom, lead me your way Show me the path you take and Walk with Christ each day Good Lady Poverty, I sing your praise, St Francis blessed one, has walked your ways He sang your virtues; you were his prize, Good lady poverty an angel in disguise Poor in spirit means like Mother Clara • who found her total dependence on God • who putting her complete trust and confidence in him • who saw the hand of God in my life It is these who are my people (4) 1. The child who is hungry for bread and warmth The homeless child lacking care and love Looking for someone who would wish it well Capable of being a father and mother. 2. The patient who suffers, who feels lonely the patient who longs for a caressing gesture Looking for the one who would soothe his pain who’ll be able to care and treat him with love. 3. A world of the rich, but empty handed, a world of the poor , of daily bread, Looking for one who would feel their hunger A surrendered life to transform society In the words of Mother Clara:-  A providential glance of God watches over us.  Nothing happens without divine permission.  Let us work with the right intention of pleasing only GOD, otherwise, our works would be empty  My daughter is the one who will be at the side of the unprotected, will be the voice of the voiceless, will be an evangelical witness of Lady poverty through her thoughts, words and deeds In Coming to God, One Must Be “Poor in Spirit.” • You must humble yourself and God will then exalt you (James 4:10). • Only those who are “poor in spirit” will God fellowship (Isa.57:15). • For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart Of the contrite.’” • The “kingdom of heaven” belongs to the “poor in spirit.” So what is God calling you to be… The Poor in spirit… The Anawim of Yahweh God’s cared people… To recognize the poor in spirit we have to be one. Let us open our eyes to discover the poor in spirit within our selves