Though rich, Christ became poor

NET Letter – June 28, 2015

Though rich, Christ became poor for our sakes, 

so that by his poverty we might become rich

You see a lot of strange things on the Jacksonville highways as you commute to and from work. The other day I saw a van with very neat script on the rear window.  It said, “This is America, we don’t re-distribute wealth, we work for it.” Really? The streets provide me with a never ending supply of people for whom to pray.

I know that most priests and pastors are seen as bleeding-heart socialists. We are often accused of being more interested in money than souls. People think churches trade favors with politicians for their tax exempt status. But all this stems from a lack of understanding of our own abject poverty that Jesus exchanges with us that we might experience his absolute wealth.

In spiritual terms, our reconciliation with God and God’s reconciliation with the world through Christ, overflows into our lives and the lives of all people who share in this reconciliation. When this happens to us we cannot help but be transformed into an attitude of sharing our excess—of time, talent, treasure, and grace—with one another.

When we feel the excess of grace through Jesus we feel God transforming our theology from one of scarcity into abundance. No longer do we hoard our excess in the hope of having our needs taken care of today, tomorrow, and all the days of the future.  When we feel the power of abundance we suddenly feel the power to forgive, to be generous with each other, and the power to share our wealth so that “no one might have too much and none shall have too little.”

Jesus exchanged his vast wealth as the son of God, because though rich, Christ became poor for our sake so that by his poverty we might become rich.

Peace,

Father Mark+