To be Poor

A major part of my preparation for joining the Augustinians has been getting rid of my stuff. To be honest when I first decided to join the Order, getting rid of my things was something that I was not looking forward to. It is not that I am overly materialistic or especially attached to things, but just getting rid of my stuff seemed like such a scary proposition at the time.

I wondered what would I do if I happened to leave the Order. I could not picture my potential life after the Augustinians without a TV or a really nice coffee maker.

As soon as I started getting rid of these things, all of my fears quickly disappeared. I actually enjoyed living with less. Suddenly I found myself reading instead of watching TV or playing video games, I was growing in my faith and challenging myself mentally instead of wasting my time.

I also discovered that the less you have, the less you worry, but like I said I have never been too attached to things in the past.  So the lesson and the sacrifice were not as great for me as it would be for some.

To me attachment is exactly what the vow of poverty is about. While some orders do take it to the extreme and live in an utter state of poverty, like some Franciscans, poverty for many orders including the Augustinians (and many lay people as well) seems to be more focused on detachment from the things that we have, rather than having nothing at all.

What do I mean by this? Well in the scope that I view poverty, it is all about the relationship between man and the material. For instance next year I will have in my possession a very nice computer. This computer will aid me in my schoolwork, help me to stay in touch with my family and friends, allow me to raise money, and evangelize through social media (like I am right now) via the internet. All of which allow me to grow in relationship with God while causing no separation from Him.

As long as I view my computer as a tool, much in the same way as I would view a rake or a chainsaw, I am detached. The moment that I begin to elevate my computer or any other possession that I have, is when it becomes a problem. It is then that I know that I need to make a change in order to stop distancing myself from God.

I recognize this may sound kind of silly to a lot of you, but this sort of materialistic attachment is destroying our society. You cannot step outside, go on the Internet, or watch television for more than two minutes without realizing this.

We as a society are being brainwashed!

Do you know that they are calling our generation “generation me?” How disturbing, that our generation is defined by our selfish attachment and self love. When again and again studies have shown that self love and material things do not make one happier, if anything they hinder happiness.

Our societies’ attitude towards material possessions and self-love is actually the opposite of what Christ teaches us. In Luke 12:33 he tells us this:

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”

We as young men and women need to take Christ’s advice, not all of us literally, and break through the shackles that our possessions hold us in. Instead of investing so much of ourselves into what we have, we need to invest into who we are as well as growing in our individual relationship with God.

We need to detach ourselves form things of this world and attach ourselves to God and His Church.

If and when you do this, you will not only be much happier, but you will be fulfilled. I know, I have experienced it.

I have seen people thrive in real poverty. I have spent a significant amount of time in third world countries like Armenia and Mexico. It is in these places that I have seen some of the most joyful people living in the most materially impoverished conditions. Looking back on these experiences I feel selfish for fretting over the selling of my PlayStation 3.

When we turn towards the Saints we see a group of people who did exactly as Christ commanded in Luke 12. Whether it be the Precious Flower, St. Therese, who gave up a loving family and her freedom in the world to join the Carmel, the countless Martyrs such as John De Brebuf, Miguel Pro, Cecilia, and Thomas Moore who literally gave their lives for Christ and His Church, Mother Teresa who gave up a comfortable teaching position as a Sister of Loreto in order to serve the most destitute in the Indian slums, or JPII who gave up his dreams of being an actor to serve us with one of the most brilliant priesthoods of all time.

We can and should look to Christ, who lived poverty in the most beautiful of ways; giving His life so that we may live.

So as sons and daughters of God we are all called to live a life of poverty, to sell all of our things and follow Him. This “poverty” that Christ calls us to will look different for everyone, but His call is universal.

It will not be easy at first, but know that it is only through Christ that we can find true fulfillment and in order to do this we must be detached from the things of this world.

They are temporary, He is eternal.