Yes, I understand that, but there’s a basic tension between the “freedom of poverty” and the responsibilities of family life. In other posts he’s mentioned the obligation to plan for the future: retirement savings, college savings, private education, etc., etc.
It’s true, Jesus gave an example of the freedom of living practically without possessions. It’s also true that nobody reasonably expected Jesus to have a plan for his nursing home care so as not to bankrupt his descendants or become a burden on the taxpayer.
You can’t have it both ways, and I don’t think Msgr. Pope is trying to say you can. He’s just reflecting on one thing one day, and something else another day.
I loved the homily that the priest gave on the feast of St. John the Baptist. It’s June 24th. It’s no doubt given that date not because anyone actually knew his date of birth but it worked with the time line of March 25th annunciation and Dec. 25th Christmas and the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. It is also however, the date when it becomes noticeable that the days are getting shorter. John says, “I must decrease and He must increase.” The homily was that the more Jesus is in our lives, the less the pull of other things. Yes, we plan for retirement and to put our kids through college but we also “plan” for our eternal salvation. So I follow Dave Ramsey’s recommendations - first give to God.