How do we look at the lowest among us?

How do we look at the lowest among us?

Take a moment and see the aged, crippled, and extremely helpless, who through no fault of their own have become the poor among us.  Have they always existed in times of plenty or with the availability of so many institutions for the lowest souls in our midst?  

The elderly, a reality of life where many of our citizens have gone beyond the average age of 70’s and above, living a lonely life without anyone to care for them.  Then there are within the grasp of all of us people who have existed with extremely debilitating circumstances, many who were born with them.  

And those who are living a life of severe poverty that belongs to a past era of the 1920’s and the depression.  What has happened in a time of revolution towards success and a chicken in every pot declared by President Roosevelt.  The days of bread lines should have disappeared from our society, but have not.  

Jesus' reading from the prophet Isaiah in Nazareth (Is 61: 1 - 3)  first narrative of his proclaiming the poor, was to bring glad tidings to the poor.  (Lk 4: 18 - 19).  Glad Tidings interpreted as Good News or the true understanding of the Gospel.  How are we, a society of people with more blessings, in our coffers, overlooking those to whom we have been mandated to care for?

Perhaps this question is the most classical, next to why people suffer, and the fact that there always were poor all around in every age of humanity.  From Deuteronomy:  “If one of your kinsmen in any community is in need in the land  which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand to him in his need.  Instead, you shall open your hand to him and freely lend him enough to meet his need.  (Dt 15: 7 - 8).  “When you give to him, give freely and not with ill will; for the Lord, your God, will bless you for this in all your works and undertakings.  The needy will never be lacking in the land ; that is why I command you to open your hand  to your poor and needy kinsmen in your community.”  (Dt 15: 10 - 11).

We have seen a number of institutions, such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, donated by Danny Thomas, reaching out to children for recovery.  A case for the hopeless that has gone far beyond the element of caring for the poor among us.  

Our question again,  how do we look at the lowest among us?  Each one of us, who has been blessed by God and through other people, needs to take the same effort and reach those near us who are lonely, helpless, and calling with a silent scream for someone to care for them.  

Because Jesus reiterated the theme “the poor you shall always have with you” doesn’t mean “Oh well that’s too bad.”  Reach out and share the Glad Tidings, the Gospel of real Truth among us.

My wife and I, 85 and 87 respectively, have reached the conclusion that getting older has its consequences.  Both of us are still cognitive and viable but need some assistance within various areas of care.  Fortunately, one of our daughters and her husband asked us to move in with them and it is a God-send when families are open like that for parents in their twilight years.  We are just one example of how the efforts to care for others is being met today.  However, that is not always the attraction of the majority in our selfish society that is occurring elsewhere around the country.  Homelessness affects citizens of all ages and we see far too many elderly put away once they become brain deficient or physically unable to care for themselves. 

When my wife’s mother was in a nursing home, agreed by all her children for her own safety, there was another elderly lady who had been admitted by her children at an age not that old.  They thought she wouldn’t be around very long.  She had been there for over 25 years, always getting dressed and waiting for them to come and see her or at least visit.  Never happened.  That is a classic example of loneliness that confronts too many elderly today.  

Our children heard the words, Glad Tidings to one and all.  Theirs is a blessing that reaches beyond dollars and cents.  Love makes all the difference!

Ralph B. Hathaway