Poor Yet Possessing All

“...as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.” 2 Corinthians 6:10

Saint Paul describes himself thus and many of the saints were also poor yet enriching many; had nothing and yet possessed all things. They found the treasure that is worth more than worldly goods. Many saints gave away their wealth and chose a life of poverty in order to pursue the “higher calling”. St. Thomas Becket, St. Katherine Drexel, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Melania the younger, were all born to great wealth, and some even nobility. They chose to turn away from all the trappings of the “good life” to have a simple life to focus on God. 

In our modern time, we saw how Mother Teresa and her missionaries, even if they had no riches of their own, were able to help so many. They cared for the abandoned, whether they were refugees or prostitutes, people with AIDS, lepers, mentally ill or street children. They opened houses for the poor and aged, day care centers and soup kitchens around the world. 

Father, show us the work we should do, where we are, with what we have. We too want to help build Your Kingdom. Mother Teresa said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”