Many people are familiar with the story of Jesus of Nazareth addressing a crowd admonishing them with statements of apparent fact. The statements attributed to Jesus appear in two of the “Gospels,” Matthew and Luke. In my years studying religion at a Roman Catholic university I was taught the Gospels were, in fact, not written during the time Jesus lived on Earth. Indeed, my education ultimately lead me to decide to largely abandon formal religion but, as one of my textbooks for no fewer than 12 years, much of what is in the “New Testament” has stayed with me and, for purposes of this column, few passages have remained with me more than the Beatitudes.
In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 6, verse 20 Jesus says to the multitude: … “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.”
Matthew tries to neolib the statement by writing “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” but, to be honest, Luke had it right (anyone alive in the US knows that EVERY wealthy person is “poor in spirit”). The difference is significant. Over the course of my ever lengthening life one thing I know about the poor is they are the MOST generous people in the World. It seems quite clear that Jesus of Nazareth favored the poor, but why? The answer is simple, because it is the poor he came to help.
Elsewhere in his sermon, Jesus notes that the wealthy have “already” received their reward. The juxtaposition is very much intended. In Luke’s simplistic but accurate analysis Jesus wants us to understand that those who seek material wealth and achieve it have all they will ever have while the poor shall have the “kingdom of God.” The followers of Jesus were, generally, ordinary folks with little material wealth. As always there were (and are) exceptions however those who are poor in material terms are far more likely to understand the teachings and commandments of Jesus. Love one another, help one another, feed, clothe and shelter one another. Seems quite simple because, it is! When we are freed from the illusory, temporal “wealth” offered by the physical world we almost necessarily look beyond to those things that truly matter.
Indeed, it is little wonder that any who genuinely follow Jesus of Nazareth understand pursuing material wealth above all else can very likely cost one his or her humanity. Imagine billionaires literally scheming to reduce the population of humans, spending literal billions in order to look to other places, even other planets, as practical and desirable so that they, and they alone, can preserve themselves and the handful of other humans they consider their peers. About such folks we find the increasing use of terms such as “sociopath” and “psychopath.” Webster’s defines a psychopath as “a person having an egocentric and antisocial personality marked by a lack of remorse for one's actions, an absence of empathy for others, and often criminal tendencies.” Certainly there MAY be billionaires and their worshippers who are exceptions however, generally, I believe the average billionaire and their sycophants are indeed psychopaths.
Let’s take a deeper dive and, as we do, think of Gates, Bezos, Bloomberg, Soros, Musk and their ilk. Egocentric? Unquestionably. Antisocial? Absolutely, unless we’re talking about garish events where they’re surrounded by worshippers. Lack of remorse for their harmful actions? Almost rhetorical. Absence of empathy for others? Those who spoke on the subject opposed helping average Americans during the ongoing pandemic. Criminal tendencies? To say they believe they are ABOVE the law would be a laughable understatement.
I think it’s more than fair to conclude that, on average, billionaires are most certainly psychopaths. They will do ANYTHING to garner more and more material wealth while effortlessly turning their backs on the 7 BILLION humans who must struggle to survive with any but the most basic comforts. Whatever else is true these are NOT people we should emulate or look up to. Are they “poor in spirit?” Most certainly they are and THAT is why I am beyond certain that when Jesus of Nazareth gave his “Sermon on the Mount” he did NOT say “blessed are the poor in spirit” but DID say “blessed are the poor.” The poor cannot simply choose to be materially wealthy and, in an all too real way, that most certainly is a blessing. The poor must seek true, everlasting wealth and for that reason they are promised the “Kingdom of God.” I hope you are NEVER blinded by those things that glitter so that you can see those things that truly matter.
With the year 2022 on our doorstep now is the very best time to look around you and, more importantly, look at the people who matter to you. Will you support them by offering them money and gifts of things that might offer very temporary happiness or by offering them the greatest gift you possess - your very self? Happy New Year!
"Blessed are the Poor!"
"Blessed are the Poor!"
"Blessed are the Poor!"
Many people are familiar with the story of Jesus of Nazareth addressing a crowd admonishing them with statements of apparent fact. The statements attributed to Jesus appear in two of the “Gospels,” Matthew and Luke. In my years studying religion at a Roman Catholic university I was taught the Gospels were, in fact, not written during the time Jesus lived on Earth. Indeed, my education ultimately lead me to decide to largely abandon formal religion but, as one of my textbooks for no fewer than 12 years, much of what is in the “New Testament” has stayed with me and, for purposes of this column, few passages have remained with me more than the Beatitudes.
In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 6, verse 20 Jesus says to the multitude:
… “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.”
Matthew tries to neolib the statement by writing “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” but, to be honest, Luke had it right (anyone alive in the US knows that EVERY wealthy person is “poor in spirit”). The difference is significant. Over the course of my ever lengthening life one thing I know about the poor is they are the MOST generous people in the World. It seems quite clear that Jesus of Nazareth favored the poor, but why? The answer is simple, because it is the poor he came to help.
Elsewhere in his sermon, Jesus notes that the wealthy have “already” received their reward. The juxtaposition is very much intended. In Luke’s simplistic but accurate analysis Jesus wants us to understand that those who seek material wealth and achieve it have all they will ever have while the poor shall have the “kingdom of God.” The followers of Jesus were, generally, ordinary folks with little material wealth. As always there were (and are) exceptions however those who are poor in material terms are far more likely to understand the teachings and commandments of Jesus. Love one another, help one another, feed, clothe and shelter one another. Seems quite simple because, it is! When we are freed from the illusory, temporal “wealth” offered by the physical world we almost necessarily look beyond to those things that truly matter.
Indeed, it is little wonder that any who genuinely follow Jesus of Nazareth understand pursuing material wealth above all else can very likely cost one his or her humanity. Imagine billionaires literally scheming to reduce the population of humans, spending literal billions in order to look to other places, even other planets, as practical and desirable so that they, and they alone, can preserve themselves and the handful of other humans they consider their peers. About such folks we find the increasing use of terms such as “sociopath” and “psychopath.” Webster’s defines a psychopath as “a person having an egocentric and antisocial personality marked by a lack of remorse for one's actions, an absence of empathy for others, and often criminal tendencies.” Certainly there MAY be billionaires and their worshippers who are exceptions however, generally, I believe the average billionaire and their sycophants are indeed psychopaths.
Let’s take a deeper dive and, as we do, think of Gates, Bezos, Bloomberg, Soros, Musk and their ilk. Egocentric? Unquestionably. Antisocial? Absolutely, unless we’re talking about garish events where they’re surrounded by worshippers. Lack of remorse for their harmful actions? Almost rhetorical. Absence of empathy for others? Those who spoke on the subject opposed helping average Americans during the ongoing pandemic. Criminal tendencies? To say they believe they are ABOVE the law would be a laughable understatement.
I think it’s more than fair to conclude that, on average, billionaires are most certainly psychopaths. They will do ANYTHING to garner more and more material wealth while effortlessly turning their backs on the 7 BILLION humans who must struggle to survive with any but the most basic comforts. Whatever else is true these are NOT people we should emulate or look up to. Are they “poor in spirit?” Most certainly they are and THAT is why I am beyond certain that when Jesus of Nazareth gave his “Sermon on the Mount” he did NOT say “blessed are the poor in spirit” but DID say “blessed are the poor.” The poor cannot simply choose to be materially wealthy and, in an all too real way, that most certainly is a blessing. The poor must seek true, everlasting wealth and for that reason they are promised the “Kingdom of God.” I hope you are NEVER blinded by those things that glitter so that you can see those things that truly matter.
With the year 2022 on our doorstep now is the very best time to look around you and, more importantly, look at the people who matter to you. Will you support them by offering them money and gifts of things that might offer very temporary happiness or by offering them the greatest gift you possess - your very self? Happy New Year!