Blessed are the poor – 23 November 2012

A slightly troublesome subject for contemplatives is poverty.  Blessed are the poor, said Jesus.  But we are not poor – neither do we wish to be, as the word is normally used.  Last week here we were having a little discussion when we arrived about the problems of downsizing our homes and shedding possessions we no longer have space for.  There may also be the matter of shedding possessions anyway, before our children or others have to sort out and dispose of all the gear we have left behind.

Well, we can slightly clarify one aspect of this, I think.  St Benedict did not mention poverty much, if at all.  I think most of them were pretty poor anyway.  What he does stress is the spirit of sharing.  So Benedict’s poverty is not really that of St Francis -- the giving up of all things, divesting oneself of goods and ownership.  Benedict stresses that his monks may have all sorts of things, but in common.  It is the community that matters.  Whoever needs more should feel humble because of his weakness, not self-important because of the kindness shown him.  In this way all the members will be at peace… [RB 34: 4-5]  I took a kind of wry amusement last week when I was writing this, but also riffling through one of those glossy real estate supplements;  it was featuring $2-3 million lifestyle mansions in various places, and I thought, according to Benedict these folk should be feeling humble because of their weakness.  You know how sometimes when you borrow a book from some slightly old-fashioned person, it might have a sticker inside the cover which says Ex Libris…, reminding you that it is not yours but mine.  That is because even Christians, down through history, can be the most charming thieves.  The Benedictines however sometimes inscribe their books with Ad Usus…, for the use of.  It acknowledges that the book is not their private property.  And perhaps, when you cast your mind over the things you own, some of which may be valuable, others sentimentally important, and mentally place over them all  the label Ad Usus, it is satisfying and freeing.  It clarifies how we stand to these things, and increases our gratitude. 

Real poverty however is a very prevalent social state in our world, and perhaps our most pressing social issue.  So it matters that contemplatives sort out our own relationship to wealth and possessions.  What we possess is Ad Usus.  We do not go around proclaiming that all we have we have worked hard for and it is ours.  Even less do we want to claim that our many possessions are a sign of God’s approval of us and our righteousness – some people do sincerely believe that.  We do not wish to be identified with or judged by our possessions.  We know how to enjoy them, but do not choose to be defined by them.  We have clear ideas about greed and avarice, and we know it when we see it.  And these are things which, as we are able, we teach our children and grandchildren, ever questioning and undermining the culture which says you are what you own. 

Poverty may be a loaded word and sometimes quite frightening, but simplicity of life ought to be acceptable.  In our silence and stillness we are open to our attitudes being changed, even in those areas we thought were most basic to our identity, where we were most timid of change.  The process is gentle, strong and persistent, over the weeks and months, as we elect for silence, stillness, and the mantra.