Though the goal of Unity-Works is to unite people of all faith traditions around the issue of poverty; this particular post is written from the vantage point of the Christian tradition. I believe every major world religion calls for the faithful to care for the poor. However, the Christian perspective is a unique one as these text demonstrate.
My New Testament Professor called Luke 14:18-19 Jesus Mission statement.
16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[e]
20Then he rolled up the scroll gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Prior to seminary, I had never heard the term “preferential option for the poor”. I doubt I can do justice in defining it, however this week, I would like us to reflect upon the writings of others who are more qualified than I am. I ran across this concept in my study of Oscar Romero. The following quote is taken from the book “Archbishop Oscar Romero; Voice of the Voiceless” introductory essays by Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Martin-baro
“Archbishop Romero encountered in the midst of the poor the pathway to belief in God. I am here speaking not so much of the good he did for the poor but rather the good the poor did for him, as far as his faith was concerned. In the first place he found in the poor that which is scandalous in the mystery of God understood in a Christian sense: in those whom history crucifies is made present the crucified God. It is the dividing line between authentic Christianity and other theistic beliefs. It is made manifest in the poor, in the oppressed and the repressed of his people. In their faces Romero saw the disfigured countenance of God. His deep conviction can best be expressed in the sentence from the Puebla documents: “Therefore, because they are poor, God comes to their defense and loves them”. There is stated here a particular relationship between God and the poor, a preferential relationship within the overall relationship between God and creation. “
This same concept was present in the writings of Dorothy Day who claimed to have encountered the very real tangible presence of Christ in the homeless in New York City. Her understanding was founded on this passage in Matthew chapter 25
31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
This week we will be reflecting on these passages and seeking to understand how we are to faithfully respond to the poor in our midst and will be asking the question, Is there a special relationship between God and the poor? How do other world religions view poor and our ethical responsiblity to care for the poor?
Has anyone ever heard of the organization Family Promise?
http://www.familypromise.org
It is apparently an interfaith orgainization/network that works with the homeless on a wholistic basis. There is one affiliate in Roanoke. i don’t know much about them but they were brought to my attention by a church that was looking for a network that works with homelessness.
Yet another ‘resource’ out there that may (or may not) be doing some great work. Half the battle is just figuring out who does what for whom, how much, when, and why!!
I would like to discuss the preferential relationship between God and the poor which is a phrase coined by Bishop Camero in the reading given to us by Wendy in her comments. I do not see a different relationship between the poor and God. What I see is God’s love and compassion expressed most clearly when he addresses the poor and their needs. With the poor there is no facade or hidden agenda. Members of this population are stripped of finances, resources, opportunity, and often self-respect, hope, vision, spirituality and alternatives.
God consistently asks His children to minister to all who are poor whether in spirit, physically or emotionally. And to address each need effectively. I was in prision and you visited me; hungry and you fed me… After all that is what Jesus did when He was on earth and truly what He did for each of us on the cross and with His resurrection. Only because He forgave us our sins and gave us eternal life with Him and the father, can we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is who guides and leads us to truly minister to others through God’s love.
If we did not have God’s love and guidance within us, would we know how to meet the needs of others? Would we really hear their sorrows, dreams, and fears? I think not. What an awesome role God has placed on His children. And the command is clear and simple. Love others as I love you and as you would want to be loved.
I would like to discuss the preferential relationship between God and the poor which is a phrase coined by Bishop Camero in the reading given to us by Wendy in her comments. I do not see a different relationship between the poor and God. What I see is God’s love and compassion expressed most clearly when he addresses the poor and their needs. With the poor there is no facade or hidden agenda. Members of this population are stripped of finances, resources, opportunity, and often self-respect, hope, vision, spirituality and alternatives.
God consistently asks His children to minister to all who are poor whether in spirit, physically or emotionally. And to address each need effectively. I was in prision and you visited me; hungry and you fed me… After all that is what Jesus did when He was on earth and truly what He did for each of us on the cross and with His resurrection. Only because He forgave us our sins and gave us eternal life with Him and the father, can we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is who guides and leads us to truly minister to others through God’s love.
If we did not have God’s love and guidance within us, would we know how to meet the needs of others? Would we really hear their sorrows, dreams, and fears? I think not. What an awesome role God has placed on His children. And the command is clear and simple. Love others as I love you and as you would want to be loved.
http://nohiddenmagenta.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/peter-singer-roman-catholicism-the-end-of-poverty/