Spiritual Poverty

"My brothers and sisters, show no partiality

as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes

comes into your assembly,

and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,

and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes

and say, "Sit here, please, "

while you say to the poor one, "Stand there, " or "Sit at my feet, "

have you not made distinctions among yourselves

and become judges with evil designs?

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.

Did not God choose those who are poor in the world

to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom

that he promised to those who love him?"

James 2:1-5 

So, I can't take credit for going after this verse tonight, as we studied it with the teens during our weekly prayer group.  However, when "the stars align" I simply must blog.

First, a warning that the language of the current show I've been enamored with (curse of an addictive personality) will likely show itself in this post.  I've been watching Downton Abbey at the recommendation of my parish's Parochial Vicar.  Excellent choice!

Ok, now that's settled, I've been having some wonderful conversations with a dear friend of mine these past few months, specifically regarding evangelization and the direction of our lives.  The beautiful thing is that we talk often about evangelization and what it looks like as a lifestyle.  Those of you who know me well know that this is a great passion of my life.  Here's how the two stories combine:

When Bl. Mother Teresa was called by Christ to found the religious community the Missionaries of Charity, she saw the physical poverty of Calcutta.  She felt the call of Christ as He reminded her of His Thirst.  "I thirst," He said on the Cross as a reminder of His love - His thirst for us.  This same woman saw the United States as a place of great Spiritual Destitution.  In the United States, we have access to just about anything we desire; movies, music, internet, BLOGGING, Twitter, Facebook, education, food that we like, clothing, etc.  The poverty in America is not of a physical nature, but of a spiritual one.  (Please note that I'm not denying the very dire situations of several people in our country.  I'm simply making commentary on the social state of many of those we encounter daily.)

When we read the passage above, of course we are called to care for the poor.  I will never deny that justice is still a deep-seeded desire of my heart and a great virtue of the Father.  However, if we take this verse and apply it to the great need of our own nation - spiritual poverty - how much more are we called to love in ministry?  Isn't it so easy sometimes to sit back and allow ourselves to give those a front row seat?  I see this sometimes in myself; it's easy sometimes to work with those in front of you rather than to continue to push to find the new souls the Lord has entrusted to your care.  You alone are to find them (with grace), and so you alone must seek them (with grace).  

Tonight I'm reminded that my desire to seek that lost hasn't waned a bit.  I desire to work with and deepen those who are striving for virtue and holiness, but so much of my heart continues to desire to seek those who are not wanting this.  I will continue to make new contacts and search for those who allow the seeds of the Gospel to take root in their lives.  Pray for my continued conversion.