We often speak of poverty as lack of money, food, shelter or other basic needs. However, when speaking of evangelical poverty, we are referring to the free gift of self: giving of oneself and sharing, overcoming the constant temptation of profit, selfish calculation, exploitation and manipulation of others, oneself or things.
Poverty, we can say, is a career in itself and, to be honest, one of the most complicated. It requires hard practical training, so hard and demanding that the Lord Jesus decided to keep the teaching of this discipline directly to Himself. The evangelical meaning of Salesian poverty is seen in Jesus of Nazareth, who, though rich, became poor.
Embracing voluntary poverty becomes a value for those who are called by God to be religious. Why do we choose a life of poverty? We look at the simplicity of Christ's life, because Jesus wanted to be poor, chose poverty as a constant companion in His life, and used a simple lifestyle to carry out the mission He was entrusted with.
This simple lifestyle is visible among Africans who live by the sweat of their brow; they express joy and satisfaction with the little they have to live on. The Salesians testify to the evangelic value of poverty with a simple lifestyle inherited from Don Bosco. One of the most interesting things is their sensitivity to the environment in which they live and to the people around them.
Our evangelical poverty becomes something positive when it is the fruit and manifestation of love for others and for all of Creation: it appears as a charism of humility, simplicity, detachment, solidarity and fraternity with all, starting with the neediest, hospitality, "option for the poor" and "promotion of justice," overcoming all forms of exploitation, gentrification (capitalist type) and consumerism. Let us therefore accept the Holy Father's invitation to take care of our Common Home in order to live in joy, peace, and harmony.
The full article is available in the SMD 2023 booklet in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/17720-rmg-salesian-mission-day-2023-evangelical-poverty#sigProIda22fcfef8b
