Several years ago, having just celebrated Mass, and now standing on the sidewalk in front of the church greeting and chatting with folks, a man came up to me and said, “Are you just too stupid to learn Latin – is it too hard for you?”  Seems he expected the Mass to be celebrated in Latin.

In those moments when someone comes to us and immediately begins to berate, challenge, criticize, scold, rebuke, defy, confront, or any other act which opens the floodgates of their psychic, spiritual, and emotional energy – what is our reaction? If you like most folks (and me) it depends on our condition.  Sometimes we roll with the moment and sometimes it only takes a single word to upset the tender balance of our own life. One way to be poor in spirit, is to take in the waves of energy which may or may not have been directed at you in the first place – even as toxic as they may be in the moment. This is biblical idea of to “hate” oneself – to choose or prefer the other.

Why would one do such a thing? Because we trust that God’s grace can convert the energy, the moment, the person and fill up the wellspring of Spirit.  And sometimes we just need a moment when we say nothing, do nothing, do not react, and in that liminal moment, turn the other cheek.

Admonition Fourteen: Poverty of Spirit

¹ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

² There are many who, while insisting on prayers and obligations, inflict many abstinences and punishments on their bodies. ³ But they are immediately offended and disturbed about a single word which seems to be harmful to their bodies or about something which might be taken away from them. ⁴ There people are not poor in spirit, for someone who is truly poor in spirit hates himself and loves those who strike him on the cheek.