When Jesus was sent from heaven to earth, He came via "the narrow way", as seen in the humble circumstances of His birth. What did Mary see as she gazed into the eyes of her new born son? A glimpse of God's Glory? There, in the straw, lay the one who had created the straw, the stable, the earth, the universe! It seems almost beyond human comprehension to grasp this incredible gift from God! God wrapped in human flesh could be seen, and touched, talked to, and loved. As Jesus grew, and began to teach and heal, and do the works of His Heavenly Father so faithfully, there appears to be a recurring theme in his words and works, and that theme is the mystery of humility. The Beatitudes reflect that theme so clearly as He firmly states, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Mt 5:3 Recently, while studying Matthew's record of the Beatitudes in a weekly Bible study, I asked the Lord to help me understand what it means to be "poor in spirit". The following words came into my mind. The Poor in Spirit To be poor in Spirit Is to be humble, and contrite in heart. The poor in Spirit recognize me And find it easy to call me Lord. For them, My beauty fills the earth And they see with far-seeing eyes. To be poor in Spirit means To be poor in the spirit of the world. That spirit is self serving, Mine is not! Service is not a discomfort To the poor in Spirit, Rather they relish it, and feel my joy In their service to my Father. I was poor in Spirit When I walked the earth. It is in the littleness of the narrow way That the broad highway of Heaven is seen. It is in the eyes of a child That a glimpse of greatness is revealed. My Father showed you this When He sent me from Heaven to you. To the poor in Spirit, gratitude comes easily, And the mystery of Love is quickly understood. My Father has elbow room in such a Spirit, In such a one, He can live, And breath, and bless. How terribly pride can blind us to the majestic Glory of the Living God ! "More" and "better", as reflected in typical human culture, seems to lie at the opposite end of the spectrum of Reality. May this Christmas reveal the incredible humility of God to all our hearts, and may we all be given new eyes to see the wonders that are all around us, that can so easily be missed as we live out our not-so-common, everyday lives! |
The Father's Gift by Do Fox |
