Poverty: What can I do?

The number of times the word poor is utilized in Scripture is over 170 and passages referring to poverty number over 300.  Serving the poor and marginalized is a central theme to Jesus' ministry and a challenge to us who live in a nation of prosperity.  What does poverty look like?  I live in  a county whose homeless population is over 250,000, and the problem confronts me daily.  My daily challenge is what I do about it.

Years ago I was in the downtown area of large local city.  The area was known for its large homeless population who slept on the streets. A man approached me and asked me for a shirt as the weather was cold.  I wasn't prepared to to give the man my shirt even though I could have spared it as I was warmly dressed.  I told him I was unable to provide him with anything. It was also a  time during my life where I was not spiritually grounded and quite immersed in self-centeredness.  However, this image is permanently embedded in my memory.

For me today's Gospel reading challenges me to become more compassionate for those in need. I am reminded of the recent viral video recording of the young man who prayed over a homeless man on the streets of Baltimore. It is a challenge not to turn away from a individual on the streets with a sign asking for assistance, but greet them with a smile or to pray for them. I know the ongoing the debate about what action one should take when a person on the street asks for money.  It is a challenge for me not to judge what they might do with money that is given to them.  It is also a challenge for me to give when I can, even if it is a bottle of water, socks, or granola bar.

A pastor friend of mine helped me answer the question of what to give years ago.  He said if he was able to he would offer to take the person to a local eatery and buy them a meal.  If they refused he would be on his way, but would pray for the person.  More than anything else the issue of poverty and despair provides me an opportunity to be grateful for what I have and give when I am able to.

Poverty also is not just an issue of homelessness, it also spiritual.  How many times do I interact with someone in the spiritual dumps.  What can I do for them? A kind word, a listening ear, and invitation to share my faith are all actions that are consistent with the Gospel message.  I cannot escape the issue, it is daily challenge and how I react must be considered with today's warning in the Gospel as my life depends on it.

Of Slavery and Grace

The image of people worshipping a molten calf in Exodus is disturbing to us who live in the 21st Century, perhaps because it is something that was only done by people who were "uncivilized" or "godless."  Although we in our world do not worship as such, it is clear that many in our society have become slaves to the idols of money, social media, various addictions, and power. Pope Francis even warns those who are practicing of the faith of idolatry when we make shape our image of God to conform to our needs, our desires and comforts. As football season begins we hear some referring to football as religion as the favorite team becomes the center of life for hardcore fans with all of the fanfare, memorabilia, and life revolving around the games being played Saturday and Sunday. Don't get me wrong, I myself am a football fan, but it is not the center of my life. We  also hear of the prodigal son becoming consumed in a life of idolatry spending his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
All of these brings to mind the word slavery.  Not in the historical sense, but in the sense that a person becomes inextricably bonded to a vice or habit.  I have heard of countless homilies that warn of this. Many who have families are consumed by their own children's sporting activities, soccer, baseball, football, etc.  to the point where attending Mass is secondary. Those consumed by a culture of work that demands incessantly that everything must take a back seat to the job become slaves as well. Anyone familiar with addictions can readily identify to the idea of slavery as well as the addiction bonds them to the point where everything else becomes secondary; family, work, and most importantly God.  The person becomes a walking disconnection as nothing else matters but the habit or activity.

However, much like the prodigal son in today's Gospel there is hope. Longing for the better life, at the lowest point of existence, the son stands resolutely and makes his way back to his father.  Amends are made and the father who never lost hope celebrates his lost son coming home with a celebration. We hear of stories of recovery from those who have hit these rock bottoms of life to return to a normalcy. They have found that idolatry and slavery did not provide the fulfilling life once desired. Grace has prevailed. Many of them are welcome back to their own families in a new way of life. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here.  A careful examination of life just might reveal an issue that has consumed one's existence. In this Year of Mercy priests worldwide have been advocating the return to  the confessional as a step in the reconciliation process.  As one who avoided this process for years and who was overcome with guilt of my own brokenness and sinfulness when I did attend, I can attest to the experience of son in the Gospel.  It was not until I fully accepted the loving mercy of God did I feel the fulfillment of grace.

The paradox of this experience also presented a challenge of living out the rest of the Gospel passage. As I had and to this day experience God's grace of forgiveness, so to must I also extend this to others. Therein lies the challenge.

Number One and Football Season

It is the beginning of the college football season and as usual the talk is about rankings.  Who is number one? For those people who indulge in fantasy football rankings of players are paramount when drafting for a team as well. Following your favorite team or player becomes an obsession. Peoples life's revolve around when their respective teams play and streaming updates on their drafted fantasy players. When things go sour and team does not perform anger and disenchantment preside. In fantasy football you trade or release a player. However in today's Gospel Jesus makes it clear, we are to follow him as He is the one.  Everything else must take a back seat. We cannot attach ourselves to teams, money, work and especially family.  There are no trades when things don't seem to go our way.  Through thick and thin He is the One.

I always found this passage problematic, primarily as Jesus addressed the crowd saying, "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children," etc. In my infantile spiritual life I was puzzled by this.  How could I possibly hate my family members and follow Jesus? Moreover the word hate itself is such a strong word. Looking at the context of this passage in its Semitic meaning, Jesus is saying commitment to God is to have primacy in one's life.  Family members are not be abandoned literally but to be released to the care of God. For anyone who has been a parent this can be a challenge.  We all want want is best for our children, but realizing that God's plan for them may not be our plan can be painful.  We become much like the architect  in the Gospel who does not plan properly.  When life takes unexpected turns and the plans we have for our children don't follow script our life seems to crumble.

Submitting to God's plan is not always easy as the cross that is to be carried can be overbearing and extremely heavy. Today's readings from the  Book of Wisdom challenges as well by asking us who can know God's counsel and reminds us that our minds can become overburden with earthly concerns. For myself this is a reminder that despite all challenges surrender to God's will is the remedy. Suffering may take place, but if this brings me closer to God it is worth it. Discernment through prayer in these formidable times set me on the straight path.

So no matter if the top college football team falls and others drop and rise in the national rankings, God's permanency as number one is constant. And for those who are seeking the top ranked fantasy player, there is none. The real player is Jesus and his ranking never drops as he will never drop a ball, fumble, miss a field goal, throw an errant pass or give up a touchdown.