Beatitudes of Hope - Blessed Are You Who Are Poor

A few weeks ago, I encountered a family looking a little lost in the church parking lot.

“Hamburguesas?” the man asked me in Spanish, as he made a clapping motion back and forth with his hands, the universal sign for hamburger.

“Umm… a… derecha de la iglesia,” I replied in my limited Spanish, as I motioned for them to go around the right side of the church.

I watched to make sure the six of them found their way toward the soup kitchen, famous for fresh grilled burgers, every Wednesday night, rain or shine. Before turning the corner, they stopped in front of the church. They each made the sign of the cross, and then one of them pulled out a cell phone. With wide smiles and lots of laughter, they took turns taking selfies. I imagined a worrisome uncle or grandparent living a thousand miles away receiving this photo greeting card. A snapshot of their loved ones standing in front of our church – happy and safe – at least for tonight.

“Gustavo Gutierrez once said provocatively, the aim of mission is ‘to convince the poor that God loves them.’” (Anthony Gittins, Ministry at the Margins) Our parish’s weekly soup kitchen is so much more than a hot meal – each person is met with dignity, the hungry are fed, the lonely find community, and the immigrant is no longer a stranger.

There is nothing romantic about being poor. As Jesus imparts the beatitudes upon the disciples, he is not idolizing scarcity or starvation. There is nothing good about the structures of injustice that keep people impoverished or marginalized. Jesus is not prioritizing one group over another based on income or social standing. Each and every person is born with dignity, and nothing exempts us from examining the social and personal realities that impoverish some people, and then to ask ourselves, “How am I called to respond?”

These first few months of the new year have been devastating for me to watch as political leaders have made countless threats to human life and dignity. From the threat of mass deportations, to the abrupt pause of life-saving international humanitarian programs that I support through my work at Catholic Relief Services, to the fear of cuts to Medicaid for people with disabilities. In every case, there is someone I personally know whose life has been turned upside down. I see how decisions in the U.S. have real and immediate consequences for people around the world – children go hungry, farmers are unable to plant their crops, and access to clean water is denied. It is almost too much for me to bear some days!

The beatitudes turn the tables on what it means to be “blessed”. Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” (Luke 6:20) This is both a statement about the dignity of people who have less and a challenge to those who have more.

Our Catholic faith invites us to live as if all that we own and possess is a gift, given to us by God, and those gifts are given to us not just for the good of ourselves, but for others. There is a freedom and sense of fulfillment that comes when we are not “owned” by our possessions. So much so, that we are free to share what we have with others, and to be the voice of justice that sheds light on the experiences of people who are suffering.

The hope and promise Jesus offers to the poor is that the kingdom of God will be theirs - where all people will exist in right relationship, shared dignity and equality. It is the banquet table where all are fed, all are satisfied, and where everyone belongs. It is a radical vision compared to the world as it is today, where the rich only get richer and the vulnerable suffer.

What does it mean to be a pilgrim of hope in a world that seems so far away from Jesus’ vision of the kingdom? As I live the call to be a pilgrim of hope, I trust that love will always overcome the worst human impulses. I daily remind myself that no executive order can put a hold on love and no government entity can put a pause on Christian compassion. The church has lived out God’s love and mercy for centuries, across many countries, and in spite of many obstacles. I embrace that being a pilgrim of hope means I cannot turn my back and simply walk away. With tremendous conviction, it compels me to tap into a deep well of righteous anger that fuels my prayer, advocacy, and desire to take action.

Christian hope allows us to face the most difficult circumstance without giving in to despair. As Pope Francis recently reminded all of the faithful in his letter to the U.S. Catholic Bishops, it requires that we not give in to narratives that discriminate and instead build bridges of solidarity - meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

As I watched the family standing in front of our church snapping photos, happy to find their way to a free community meal, I felt a lump in my throat and tears well up in my eyes. I was reminded of the work that God has called me to do in loving our neighbor at home and around the world. This invitation to stand on the side of the poor is a calling that feels more important than ever to me. On days like today, when the challenges feel insurmountable, all it takes is a simple act of kindness to catch a glimpse of the kingdom that truly belongs to them.

Going Deeper:

• Join Beth Knobbe and Catholic Relief Services for a virtual Prayer Night on Thursday, March 20th as CRS celebrates the 50th Anniversary of CRS Rice Bowl which supports hunger and poverty alleviation programs in over 100 countries around the world. Register here.

• Read Beth’s previous post “Transformed to Live the Word” about her call to service:

• Songs To Pray With:

      [Rejoice, Be Glad! ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43Qdu8eR0YA)by Adam Tice & Kate Williams
  
      [O Blest Are You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5pv6sIef5U) by Mary Louise Bringle
  
      [Blessed Are You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XSViv4a9eQ&list=RD0XSViv4a9eQ&start_radio=1) by Sarah Hart 

Photo by: Julian Spath for CRS

Thank you!

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Beth Knobbe

Beth Knobbe is an author, speaker, and ministry professional based in Chicago, Illinois. She earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Catholic Theological Union and serves as a Senior Trainer with Catholic Relief Services, engaging Catholics in living their faith in solidarity with the poor around the world. Beth is an avid traveler and is passionate about her vocation to the single life. Beth is the author of Party of One: Living Single with Faith, Purpose, and Passion (2011) and Finding My Voice: A Young Woman’s Perspective (2009). Her personal blog can be found at www.bethknobbe.com.