No one can celebrate a genuine Christmas without being truly poor. The self-sufficient, the proud, those who, because they have everything, look down on others, those who have no need even of God””for them there will be no Christmas. Only the poor, the hungry, those who need someone to come on their behalf, will have that someone. That someone is God, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Without poverty of spirit, there can be no abundance of God.
–Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917-1980)
Wow. Thanks for this, Kendall. Great insight into Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes as well as a powerful Christmas thought.
This is pretentious nonsense, dividing the world into two simple classes, one of which is forbidden to enjoy God’s grace. Did Christ come into the world to save ALL sinners or only poor ones? If you are wealthy is the door closed against you? The beatitudes are not an argument of what you MUST be if you wish to enjoy God’s grace, but what you MAY be and still be within the light that he shines. Larry
Larry,
Yes, Abp. Romero divides the world into two simple classes but neither of them has anything to do with monetary wealth.
Here are the two:
1. Those that “look down on others, those who have no need even of God”
2. Those who need someone to come on their behalf (i.e. a Savior) …That Savior is God, Emmanuel, God-with-us.
So, yes, Christ came into the world to save all sinners, but we must first humble ourselves and accept His salvation before we can receive it.
In his own way, Abp. Romero may have been in conflict with God’s grace and will because he would not humble himself to believe in a sovereign God who can change the hearts of those who have in abundance and give not, into those who have in abundance, love God, and give out of that love to others. It seems Abp. Romero was all to quick to align himself with those whose solution is to take goods away from those deemed to have too much and distribute them to those who need more, while always keeping a healthy share for themselves; e.g., the Swiss bank accounts of the Castro brothers.
Saint Romero of blessed memory proclaims the Gospel in word and deed. Please check out the movie about his life.