Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3
Who is the poor in spirit?
Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) explains it as follows:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matt. 5:3), which is to say those who are poor in will. Let no one be in any doubt about this: if there were a better way, then our Lord would have told us, who said, “If anyone would follow me, he must first deny himself” (Matt 16:24). This is the point which counts. Examine yourself, and wherever you find yourself, then take leave of yourself. This is the best way of all.
Meister Eckhart
One of the worst enemies is our spiritual pride. When we are rich in spirit, we are full of our strong self-will even unconsciously. We think we’re more spiritual than others. We think we know a lot about spirituality. We believe we are better than others even masquerading superficial humility.
It’s a paradox. Being spiritual, we’re supposed to be truly humble, seeing the divinity in everyone and everything, knowing we’re just a tiny part of this entire divinity. Paradoxically, the more spiritual we become, the less spiritual we realize we are.
Accepting God’s will could only emerge in such true surrender and obedience to Him.
Meister Eckhart also says;
When we go out of ourselves through obedience and strip ourselves of what is ours, then God must enter into us; for when someone wills nothing for themselves, then God must will on their behalf just as he does for himself.
Meister Eckhart
In this state, we feel true freedom. We are free from the prison of our self will, our ego. Our self on earth no longer controls our Self in heaven. We’re poor in spirit.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matther 6:10
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