“He anointed Me to
preach the gospel to the poor..."
I admit this has always been a puzzling statement, especially in the context where the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the lepers are cleansed. Somehow it feels as if the poor got...errr, shortchanged... a little? For, what makes much more sense to me is not the poor have the gospel preached to them, but more along the lines, the poor receive the products and goods, and are, maybe, even made... rich? But, that's not what Jesus said.
Is that - having the gospel preached to them - what the poor really need? See, my
practical, logical self is prone to questioning.
When I think of the presence
of poverty in our world, it seems that much of it is artificially created
and exacerbated by human selfishness and greed, the grabbing and
hoarding. Then there is the reality of vicious cycle where poverty breeds more
poverty, dependence on handouts creates more dependence, and so on and so
forth. Proceeding with the downward spiral, the abject poverty spawns many
intolerable evils - like modern-day slavery, or child prostitution.
Clearly, it's an extremely complicated mess - the political divisiveness
over the issue just another evidence of its complexity. But, that doesn't
leave us off the hook. Jesus says that we will always have poor with us and we
can - and should - do good to them whenever we have - whenever we make opportunity
(Mark 14:7) - like The New York cop pictured
above, did. The photo which captured the moment, unbeknownst to
him, went viral and touched millions of people around the world.
Let's clone officer Lawrence
This is all well and good, and
should be continued. But, Jesus said:
He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor...
Why?Why?!!!
I wonder if, in the midst of
all the complexities of the presence of poverty, a thought, a subtle belief
begins to settle in our minds and hearts that poor deserve to be poor, their poverty
is an external evidence of their internal wretchedness - and perhaps even a
just payment for their sins. God's punishment, so to speak. Entire
religious and socio-political systems are built on this premise. This, then, in
a warped kind of way, hardens our hearts and absolves us of the responsibility
towards our suffering brothers and sisters. Is it possible that Jesus is
addressing this insidious belief, as if saying,
No! Your poverty is NOT an indication that you are any more evil or
sinful than all the rich people around you! Your poverty is NOT an indication
that God loves you any less - on the contrary! You have a very special
place in His heart - and Mine, for your temporary condition should be seen not
as punishment but as an opportunity for all those who say they love Me to show
it by caring for you, without passing judgment. For, apart from My grace, each
of them could become one of you with a blink of an eye.
And I wonder if, perhaps, that’s what officer DePrimo saw… and
was moved by compassion for one just like him, except less fortunate. Less blessed.
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