The Paradox of Poverty

Susan Pitchford examines the ways in which followers of Christ have understood “poverty of spirit,” and the traditions that have formed around their attempts to follow Jesus on this radical path.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus said, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And we smile, nod, and think: “Lovely thought.” But if we’re paying attention, it’s a shocking, almost offensive thought. The grieving, the brokenhearted, the marginalized, the stigmatized—all blessed, all happy? In The Paradox of Poverty, Susan Pitchford examines the ways in which followers of Christ have understood “poverty of spirit,” and the traditions that have formed around their attempts to follow Jesus on this radical path.

Over the centuries, those who have heard Jesus have learned the truth of his promise that we will find the greatest happiness, our deepest fulfillment—the kingdom of heaven, in fact, our blessedness and our belovedness—in the things that seem to impoverish our souls. The Paradox of Poverty looks at some of the wisdom traditions that have formed this understanding: the scriptures, the desert mothers and fathers, the Franciscans, Liberation theologians, the 12 Step movement, and more. At both individual and collective levels, these traditions help us understand that varied kinds of poverty can become a “blessing” by bringing us to know our belovedness in God.

Susan Pitchford retired from teaching sociology after thirty years at the University of Washington. She now focuses on writing, speaking, preaching, leading retreats, and offering spiritual direction. Susan is the author of Francis: The Franciscan Way for Everyone; God in the Dark: Suffering and Desire in the Spiritual Life; and The Sacred Gaze: Contemplation and the Healing of the Self. She is also a regular contributor to Give Us This Day.