When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Special love and concern for the poor

Monday, November 23, 2009
The Joyful Mysteries
Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro
Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20
Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
Luke 21:1-4

Jesus has commanded all Christians – everyone who professes to worship in His name – to have a special love and concern for the poor.

How do we know this? Just look at the Gospel reading: “. . . this poor widow put in more than all the rest.” Clearly, Jesus lauds the efforts of the poor to embrace their poverty and still extend a hand to help others, as this poor widow did.

The Gospel is brimming with accounts of Jesus holding up the poor in spirit AND materially poor as a model for what He calls us to be. We are called to be like the widow.

If you are like me, you probably worry that embracing your own poverty – accepting it – basking in it, even, will make you less able to be responsive to the needs of others (financially and physically).

The young men in the first reading (maybe the first young people in history to choose vegetarianism as a lifestyle) chose to live simply and courageously as inspired by the Law, and were certainly none the worse for it. God took care of them.

Oh, NOW I get it . . . I think . . . I hope . . . I pray.

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