Fr. Don's Daily Reflection - March 12, 2024
Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”
In a big city one of the advantages for our spirits is that we will inevitably pass a few homeless or poor people. If we're out late enough, we see them lying in makeshift cardboard shelters. What do we do for the outstretched hands? Pope Francis: "There are many excuses to justify why one does not lend a hand when asked by a person begging on the street. Some may think, 'I give money and he just spends it on a glass of wine!'"
We can, of course, make the assumption that all of these are frauds, too lazy to work, but that seems too broad a generalization. Further, Francis says: “People who worry about how the money might be spent should ask themselves what guilty pleasures they are secretly spending money on.” As we walk in comfort to our good time their presence makes unavoidable the issues of wealth and poverty.
The inequalities of our world are clear in the relative wealth of many over against the appalling poverty of homeless children on big city streets or of whole nations living in subhuman conditions. The BBC reported on 1/19/15 that “The wealthiest 1% will soon own more than the rest of the world's population, according to a study by anti-poverty charity Oxfam. The charity's research shows that the share of the world's wealth owned by the richest 1% increased from 44% in 2009 to 48% in 2014.”
The frequent reminders in the Gospels from Jesus about the dangers of wealth, the need to use it responsibly, must make us think. They shocked the disciples (Mark 10:23-27). Better than just shock for us today, of course, would be supporting some action when the opportunity presents itself: political action, neighborhood action, cooperating with larger movements to ease poverty. Rich or poor, we are all members of one human race, brothers and sisters. Our solidarity in the body of Christ tells us we can't simply sweep the problem of the poor under the carpet.
Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”
