I recall that Father Richard Rohr recently wrote a book about the “Church Needing Mystics”.  Indeed, Pope Francis appears to be exactly that, a “mystic”.  Briefly, a “mystic” is someone who is immersed in the “mystery” of Christ.  In truth, all of us, who are baptized into the mystery of the Father/Mother, Son, and Holy Spirit, ought to be “mystics” to some degree.  This is why St. Paul refers to the Church of Christ as the “mystical” body of Christ.  

A “mystic” is someone who, as St. Paul says, “lives, and moves, and has their being in Christ”.  I believe, that Pope Francis is demonstrating with his words and deeds, that He does enjoy a powerful union with Christ.  

Pope Francis’s focus of ministry is the poor.  The entire Church has been beckoned by Pope Francis to concern itself with the mission to the poor.  While, this must certainly be of primary importance, I am also reminded of the beatitude which says, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs”.  

Material poverty, alone, does not, necessarily define “being poor”, in the eyes of God.

“Being poor in spirit”, is recognizing, that “we” are nothing, without God.  God is our identity and “we” are totally dependent on Him for everything!  

I had this discussion with some people at an Easter dinner on Sunday.  A conversation broke out at the table regarding our new pope, and his message of living “poorly” and serving the “poor”.  I shared that it was a very telling reality for me, when, I sat on the bed, in my Father’s nursing home room, and noted that after a life time of work and accumulating certain things, like a home and a car, that Dad, ended his life, with a few pictures, a few games, and a small ghetto blaster.  No matter, how few things, we may have in life, even that is not poverty, unless, we do not have the three things, that St. Paul says remains, faith, hope, and love.  St. Paul says, “In the end, only three things remain, faith, hope, and love, and greatest of these is love”.  

Whether a person is materially rich or poor, we all, are called to live “poor in spirit”.  Our total dependency must be on God, who dwells in us, as faith, hope, and love!

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