實貧

 為什麼我們要實貧呢？

耶穌教： 你不可服侍天主又服侍金錢。 在舊約， 許多人因愛財愛美色愛權力而跌倒。 其實人若果有超脫（ detachment) , 就會懂得用愛天主而生活。 我們不應該愛世俗。 太過愛世俗就等於不愛天主。 什麼是太過份？ 例如： 天主誡命你有跟嗎？ 為愛天主放棄某些不正當享受你有克苦過嗎？ 從被別人感染而抽離他的友誼你有做到嗎？ 你有離開壞朋友嗎？

朋友， 是影響一個人深遠。 寧願少朋友， 甚至無， 而不求大夥人的友誼。 別人的妒忌， 對自己的聖德， 是好大傷害。聖衣會第三會時常教會員： 離開人！ 獨處！ Retirement. Solitude.

真正的實貧是從自己開始。 首先離開世俗朋友。 然後列一清單： 我什麼可以捨棄， 什麼可以為愛天主更多的犧牲。 這裏的犧牲是指會立聖德的犧牲。愛主愛人我聽得多。 什麼是愛主？ 神父教， 愛人。 我做了許多奉獻、 義工。 什麼是拉近我和天主關係？ 我的優點缺點。 怎樣才遠離人而加強自己某種聖德、 捨棄某種劣性？ 我和天主的關係是只唸玫瑰經？ 而還是：我為祂， 一天一神花， 今天打自己此惡習， 明天修這美德？

記住， 聖德是要從超脫才站得住。 聖十字若望在攀登加爾默羅山一書寫明， 爬上聖德的山， 第一步是捨棄， 超脫.

Why should we be spiritually poor?

Jesus teaches: You must not serve God and money. In the Old Testament, many people stumbled because of their love of wealth, beauty, and power. In fact, if one has detachment, one will know how to live in love with God. We should not love the world. To love the world too much is to not love God.  For example: Have you followed God's commandments? Have you practiced penance by giving up certain improper enjoyments for the sake of God? Have you managed to distance yourself from the friendships of others who have badly influenced you? Have you left behind bad friends?

Friends have a profound influence on a person. It is better to have fewer friends, or even none, than to seek the friendship of many. The envy of others is a great harm to one's holiness. The Third order of the Carmelite  frequently reminds members: Separate from people.Be alone. Retirement. Solitude.

True poverty begins with oneself. First, separate yourself from secular and worldly friends. Make a list for yourself: What can I give up? What can I sacrifice more for the love of God? The sacrifice here refers to a sacrifice that establishes your holiness.

 I've heard a lot about loving God and loving one's neighbor. What does it mean to love God?My Priests teach me : it means loving one's neighbor. I've donated a lot and done a lot of volunteer work.

 What does it mean to draw closer to God?  How can I  strengthen my certain virtue and abandon certain vices? Is my relationship with God limited to simply reciting the Rosary? Or is it: for Him, I offer a daily spiritual exercise: correcting one bad habit today and cultivating another virtue tomorrow?

Remember, holiness stands firm only through detachment.St. John of the Cross says in his book, " Ascent to mount Carmel" : the first step in  holiness is detachment.