God Alone Suffices: Living a Life of Poverty

In the past before I decided to follow the path of my vocation, the road less and rarely traveled, I encountered several outstanding and remarkable Catholic leaders and educators that have influenced my direction in life.  From my grade school teachers who became my mentors, religious brothers who helped me discerned my chosen vocation, priests who witnessed their lives as disciples, from laypeople who inspired me to be faithful in their Christian convictions, and my spiritual directors in the seminary and living saints who are serving the Church.  I found common attributes that they share.  These are Christ-centered life, prayerfulness, humility, and ongoing formation. 

The Gospel of Mark revolves around the meaning of discipleship.  It entails learning from the One who calls us- Jesus, to entrust our lives to the one who is the true Way, the Truth, and the Life.  One of the apostles said: to whom shall we go You have the words of eternal life.  A disciple, therefore, involves being faithful and committed. Learning from following is indeed not easy; it requires consistent discipline.  He allows himself to be disciplined by the Master.  Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher. - Japanese Proverb. Three years with Jesus, His apostles spent their best years learning from their Master. More than the instructions given by Jesus, His apostles spent time knowing a good friend, a mentor, and a brother in Jesus.  Meaning, they adopted His way of thinking, doing, and lifestyle.  Have you noticed amongst couples, the longer they live together, they acquired each other’s traits, behaviors, without losing their unique characteristics, (even the opposites)? They even look similar. This is the result of living as one in heart and mind. 

The Gospels expose accounts of Mark, Matthew, and Luke that center on the mission.  When Jesus summoned the Twelve, the mission was their goal.  His apostles now will apply what they have learned and experienced as a disciple and share what they have received.  This could be likened to OJT: On the job training, apprenticeship, or practicum course to gain experience.  They were sent in pairs. Jesus requires a support team, “two heads are better than one,” principle.  This strategy is true in all stages of life and relevant. We need companions on the journey, collaborators, charity partners, and co-stewards. Quite an important aspect of this divine commissioning is accountable delegation of power and authority to carry out what they need to do.

The term apostolate comes from the word – apostle or “the one being sent.”  Our ministries in the Church are apostolate.  Being trained in the ministry (EMHC) which will follow the Mass is doing an apostolate.  Serving during the Mass extends to the homebound ministry, an opportunity to visit the sick, and to comfort them by giving viaticum or Holy Communion. Reading during the Mass is the proclamation of the Word of God; thus, it is an apostolate or revealing the Word of Truth and Life to those who are listening.  Ministries participate in the mission of the Church. 

Every Christian participates in Jesus’ mission to announce God's Kingdom and bring people to God.   In carrying out this mission or apostolate, we rely not much on our own power and the security provided us by our possessions and provisions, but rather on God’s power, love, and providence.  In fulfilling the mission or apostolate entrusted to us by Christ, we can cast ourselves and our cares unto the Lord, convinced that it is, after all, his work, and we are merely participating in its completion. (Msgr. Jesus Ranada, Sunday Gospel Reflections).

The Gospel of simplicity and poverty

In today’s readings, the First and Second remind us that living a life of evangelical poverty and simplicity amongst Christ’s disciples is a powerful testimony of the life of Christ Himself who became one of us except sin.  Amos was accused by the priest in charge of the shrine at Bethel of prophesying as a fraud to get some food. Amos though he owned livestock and sycamore trees as his possessions were chosen as a prophet of the Lord.  He left his possessions behind to be God’s prophet and had everything needed to accomplish his mission because he relied on God’s power and wisdom and not anymore on his being well-equipped or focused on making a living.

St. Paul teaches us in the Second Reading that we were not chosen to become wealthy in the material sense, but to be holy and without blame before God the Father. What are these spiritual treasures? Treasures that the worldly person sees amongst God’s chosen ones as poor as they live in poverty of the spirit and are blessed-not swayed or burdened by material well-being:  1. Being redeemed after the Fall; 2. being called as adopted children of God; 3. Forgiveness for our sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. In choosing us, He has also revealed His plan of salvation and our part in it.

God alone suffices and our joy when we accept His calling. We receive all these treasures and the opportunity to help others to receive them too. Jesus told His apostles the best and effective proclaimers of the Gospel are living a life of poverty. He told them to take what they needed, but to keep it simple.  Our testimony of Gospel simplicity in the things we use is also a way we evangelize.  Always mindful that only God satisfies us, and the rest are secondary.  If anything distracts us to be fully focused on the work of ministry, we must detach ourselves from these things before they possess us.  Simplicity is emptying oneself to have more of the spiritual treasures. It is not an absence of necessities, indulgences, or cravings of material possessions as long as they do not preoccupy oneself with one’s apostolate or works of charity.  It is being a good and wise steward, being ready to go where the needs are, it is the availability of presence, and it is a total abandonment, resignation, and dependence to the supplier or provider of everything- who is God, our generous Father. 

I for one has modern means of communication to be used in my ministry - to share the Gospel, to communicate, and to keep track of my schedules, thus a decent cellphone and laptop are needed.  I need a car to travel, to work and to visit families for pastoral reasons and for socials.  I need to provide for my monthly bills and necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. And I save too for my future needs. However, I must overcome temptations like useless accumulations of things for my hobbies, including art materials, books, and ecclesiastical supplies. Thus, I must share these things including setting aside an amount for charities and spontaneous giving.  The more you give cheerfully, the more you receive abundantly, not necessarily material benefits, but spiritual treasures. If something that helps you to become holy, happy, healthy, and ready must be the only things you need, the rest are luxury.

Let’s thank Our Lord today for all the spiritual wealth he has lavished upon us, and ask him to show us, in the light of those spiritual treasures, what things we need, what things we don’t, and how we can best share them with others.