EVEN having the Son of God as your child is no guarantee that all will be well. In the Fifth Joyful Mystery, Mary and Joseph discover that Jesus is missing from their convoy. After searching, they find him in the Temple back in Jerusalem. Scripture says that they were "astonished" and that "they did not understand what he said to them."

The fifth poverty, which may be the most difficult, is that of surrender: accepting that we are powerless to avoid many of the difficulties, troubles, and reverses that each day presents. They come—and we are astonished—especially when they are unexpected and seemingly undeserved. This is precisely where we experience our poverty… our inability to understand the mysterious will of God.

But to embrace God’s will with docility of heart, offering as members of the royal priesthood our suffering to God to be transformed into grace, is the same docility by which Jesus accepted the Cross, saying, "Not my will but yours be done." How poor Christ became! How rich we are because of it! And how rich the soul of another will become when the gold of our suffering is offered for them out of the poverty of surrender.

The will of God is our food, even if at times it tastes bitter. The Cross was bitter indeed, but there was no Resurrection without it.

The poverty of surrender has a face: patience.

I know your tribulation and poverty, but you are rich... Do not be afraid of anything you are going to suffer... remain faithful until death, I will give you the crown of life. (Rev 2:9-10)