In the sermon on the mount Jesus tells His disciples 'blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'. What does this mean?

耶稣在山中圣训当中对他的门徒们说‘神贫的人是有福的，因为天国是他们的。’这句话是什么意思？

Many people may suppose that he was saying that those who have riches are far from God and those who are poor are close to God, but that is not the correct interpretation. He does not say 'blessed are the poor' but rather 'blessed are the poor in spirit'.

有很多人会假设有钱的人离天主很远以及穷人离天主很近，但是解释不正确。耶稣没有说‘贫穷的人是有福的’而是说‘神贫的人有福的’。

The reason why I make this distinction is because there are many poor people who are not 'poor in spirit'. What does that mean?

我说有差别因为有很多穷人不是神贫的人。我的意思是什么？

When Jesus was speaking about those who are 'poor in spirit' He didn't mean those who had no money or who had very little money. He meant rather those who were detached from money and possessions.

当耶稣说了‘神贫的人’的一句话的时，他的意思不是没有钱的人或者有很少钱的人。他的意思是不渴望钱的人。

The opposite is also true. A rich person, while possessing many riches, can in fact be 'poor in spirit', if they are detached from the world and do not seek after what the world has to offer.

有钱的人，虽然财富很多，如果他们不垂涎世界的东西，可以叫为‘神贫的人’。

There are some, not a lot I think, of rich people in the world who live rather austere lives and do not enjoy the material happinness that is well within their reach, but they use their money and possessions for the benefit of others. Even if they have so much money in their bank accounts, if they are not spending that money on themselves and voluntarily choosing to live a simpler life, then they are in fact 'poor in spirit'.

有的富人（我觉得不多）生活在世界中，过着简朴的生活。他们有很多钱，但是他们没有贵的东西（比如很贵汽车，很大的房子，很贵的食粮，等等）。虽然他们能过上富裕的生活，但他们决定用他们的钱和财富帮助别人而不为了自己。即便他们的银行账户有挺多钱，他们决定不购买贵的东西，他们就是‘神贫的人’。

Therefore to be poor in spirit, is not just about how little you have, but about how little you are attached to the things of this world. Once we become empty of this world and what is has to offer then we can be free to be filled with God.

‘神贫的人’不凭有多少钱或者财富的问题，而是凭多少渴望钱和财富。我们心——倾倒世界的东西，我们心就能充满天主。

I've heard a Colombian missionary talk about a vision he had relating to purgatory. He said that every person who died and received eternal life was like a dove that flapped its wings and then flew to heaven. He then asked, 'but have you ever seen a dove carrying a backpack?' As long as the dove doesn't take off the backpack it won't be able to lift off and fly away; so it is also true of our condition in this world, unless we are able to let go of it, then we won't be able to go to the One who is beyong this world.

我听过一个哥伦比亚的传教士讲他的一个关于炼狱的幻影 。他说了每一个受永生亡者好像一个鸽子向天上飞。他然后问‘你见过背书包的鸽子吗？’除非鸽子脱下它的书包，它飞不了；如同鸽子，如果我们不脱下我们背的想望世界上的好东西，我们就不能去世界的那一边。

Matthew  6：19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

玛窦福音 6:19 「你们不要在地上为自己积蓄财宝，因为在地上有虫蛀，有锈蚀，在地上也有贼挖洞偷窃；

6:20 但该在天上为自己积蓄财宝，因为那里没有虫蛀，没有锈蚀，那里也没有贼挖洞偷窃。

6:21 因为你的财宝在那里，你的心也必在那里。

if you are willing, you can pray with me,

如果你愿意，可以跟我祈祷

Lord, we pray that you may not let us labour for the treasures that perish but rather the treasure that endures to eternal life. We pray that you make us poor in spirit, and to be truly detached from the love of the things of this world．　We pray this also for all others in the world, including especially all those who are poor and yet who covet wealth far too much. We ask for these things, if it is your will, in Jesus' name, Amen

主，我们求你让我们不为了会腐烂的财富致力，而让我们为了永远生存的财富致力。我们求你让我们真是成为‘神贫的人’，让我们真正地脱下财富的爱。我们也为了世界上的人求你，特别所渴望财富的穷人。我们求你这些，如果是你的旨意，用耶稣的名字求你，阿门