Concern for the Poor
God has created us in His image and likeness. As God’s children, there are no distinctions among us on the basis of colour, race, status and so on. We are all invited to treat one another with the same respect and esteem. One’s riches or position in the society should not only be a determining factor for respect. St. James writes, “My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.” The question that St. James poses today is, “Is our church free from distinctions, differences and partiality?”
A priest dressed as a homeless man went to the church where he was to be introduced as their new parish priest. He walked around the church for thirty minutes and saw scores of people arriving in their vehicles and filling the church. Some noticed him while others ignored his presence completely. While he tried to wish some people running to occupy the seats in the church, all that he got in return was dirty looks and stares. Only a very few came forward to give him some change.
As he made his way to the church and sat on the last pew, the security guarding the church rushed towards him and ordered him to leave the church immediately as if he did not belong there. When the parish council members took the microphone to introduce the new parish priest of the church to the parishioners “We would like to introduce to you the new parish priest.” The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man started walking down the aisle, the clapping stopped with all eyes on him.
He looked towards the congregation and narrated to them all what he had experienced that morning. Listening to their new parish priest, parishioners began to feel ashamed of themselves. He then said, “Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples.”
St. James challenges us saying, “For if a man with gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?” How many of us have made such a distinction?
The Church of Christ means that we not only treat the poor with respect but the way we conduct ourselves as Christians, the way we hold our parish feasts, the kind of church constructions that we undertake and the kind of service we do must reflect the hallmark character of Christians: concern for the poor, care for the needy and help towards the marginalized. In speaking about poverty in the world today, Pope Francis says that poverty is the flesh of the poor Jesus, in that child who is hungry, in the one who is sick and in those unjust social structures. The church becomes an abode of God only when the homeless and suffering feel welcome in the church. The church with its “riches” should not alienate the poor of the today.
St. James further writes that it was God who chose those who were poor in the world. Jesus Christ himself chose to be poor and was born in a manger. His earthly ministry was towards the needy of His time. In the Gospel, a man suffering from hearing and speech impediment is brought to Jesus. Jesus touches him and prays for him and heals him. In his earthly life, Jesus chose to be with the poor and suffering. He healed the sick and cured those suffering from physical ailments. Jesus was poor and He was for poor!
God has always shown a special concern for and love of the needy and the poor. This does not imply that poverty is to be glorified as a virtue. But, we as children of God should help the poor and assist them in their needs. God’s deep concern for the poor is the source of Christian ethics. The Christian social concern is better described in the parable of the Last Judgement in Matthew 25. It is this concern that has led Christians all over the world to take up works of charity and development. It is indeed a scandal if we hold extravagant parish feasts when poor around us have no food to eat and if we Christians live our lives without any concern for the poor ignoring the great needs in our world. St. James exhorts the whole community to participate fully, consciously, and actively in their care for each other. It is an exhortation to fully and radically embrace the Gospel message in one’s heart and to act out that faith in love of neighbour.
Pope Francis once said, “Oh, how I wish for a church that is poor and for the poor!” Church has to become poor if she believes in God who is God of Anawim. Church has to be for the poor if she is founded on the Gospel principles!
johnsekarofm 