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The Virtue of Poverty VI Poverty of Persecution Holy Week 2021 Lourdes Pinto & Fr. Jordi Rivero We have a Choice The rich young man, we read, “went away sad.” He had good reason to be. He had been loved by Christ, sought out by Him. He had received from Christ a silent declaration of love, in a single glance: “looking at him, Jesus loved him” (Mk10:21). His wealth prevented him from receiving it. (Poverty p.52) The choice is still open. The living, risen Christ is still walking by and calling people. It is up to us to choose between the two destinies: that of the rich young man or that of the apostles. (Poverty, p.53) “You cannot serve God and wealth.” In the account of Jesus’ birth, we see two starkly contrasting worlds: one symbolized by the inn, the other by the stable where He is born. The first world is all light, comfort, and activity; people are eating, drinking, enjoying themselves. Rich people dressed in lavish clothes, with heavy purses on their belts, dismount from their horses and come and go at will. In the Second World, on the other hand, all is poverty, darkness, cold, and discomfort. A young woman, silently accompanied by her husband, is about to give birth to her first child. They are forced to share bed and board with the animals. (p.59) Christmas is a mystery. His presence alone reveals two different worlds. And we are called to take a stand, to decide which of the two worlds we wish to belong to. (p.60) The Gospel never condemns earthly goods and riches in themselves. One of Jesus’s friends is Joseph of Arimathea, “a rich man” (Mt 27: 57). What Christ condemns is attachment to money and goods, trust in them as if “one’s life depended on them” (Lk 12: 15). Such wealth is variously called “deceptive” (Mt 13: 22), “foolishness” (Lk12: 20), an obstacle that brings the threat of “woe” (Lk6: 24). (p.62) An English businessman wrote: “Money is a tainted thing, and the only way in which I will not be tainted by it is to use it honestly and generously. I must see it as a means to do good for others and not as the foundation of my own happiness and security. I am only a steward called by God to use the talents and wealth that he has loaned me to build his Kingdom here on earth. I shall be judged for my stewardship and not for my wealth. I cannot use money to pay for a better lawyer, nor to bribe the judge. I can only use it to lay up treasure for myself in heaven by every little act of love and unselfishness towards the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters whom he sent to me for help.” (p.70) We must live the virtue of poverty and let it challenge and judge us.    Spiritual Poverty of “First World”  “You say: ‘I am rich, I have prospered and I need nothing” (Rv 3:17) Today, behind that “you” lies an entire civilization glorying in its breathtaking technological achievements. It too is tempted to think of itself as rich, in need of nothing, not even God. This is why the risen Lord’s reply is for our world to: “you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked” (Rv 3:17). This is exactly the spiritual poverty of our so-called “First World”! (Poverty, p.85) ·      5/31/2010 Memorial Day  Prophecy for USA/ Missionaries of the Cross You, My nation of the USA, have forsaken Me, your God.  You have made materialism your god.  You have made yourselves your own God.  You have slaughtered My innocent little ones and their precious blood cries out to Me.  You have turned your face from Me.  Now I will turn My face from you during the time of the great chastisement. My daughter, raise up My army of holy ones.  You must speak My words of warning, for I, your Lord and your God, loves you.  You must tell them to open their eyes to Love Crucified, to unite themselves to Love Crucified, for it is only in this way that...