The basis for the Church's "option for the poor" is the whole mystery of creation: God created us out of nothing, and so our very existence as creatures is, from one perspective, an experience of radical poverty. At the same time the "option for the poor" is clarified by the mystery of the Incarnation, where Jesus emptied Himself and became man (Phil 2:6-11).

Thus, from the obvious notion of economic poverty inherent in the "option for the poor", the whole mystery of creation, redemption and salvation, which is the work of the Blessed Trinity in our regard reveals another and more profound meaning of poverty. Jesus proclaimed this meaning: "Blessed are the poor in spirit". This "poverty of spirit" is far more important than the problem of economic poverty: for, until the vast majority of the human race, both rich and poor, become really poor in spirit, we will never solve the problem of economic poverty.

In stories such as that of Tobias, which we begin to read today, the Bible presents us with a living picture of the "poor of Yahweh". These Jews, in exile but often economically well off, remained absolutely faithful to God even in hostile surroundings: their fidelity was their poverty.