Who are the Poor?

Who are the Poor?  

A follow-up on “As we enter into the lives of the Poor”

We may spend a lot of time speaking about how to help the poor among us, but we must discern just who these people are and why they are where and what compels them.

The first and debilitating attitude that stands out coming from the rest of us who do not understand the where and what of these human beings.  The temptation to look down on anyone who has left the normal manner of taking care of themselves and their children if any are involved as a family has become a travesty in a society that supposedly has risen above the generation of “I got mine from working, where is your excuse for living like this?”  

Early on in the diaconate after Vatican II, I read where a deacon from Chicago used the streets with dumpsters.  These garbage collectors became the pews for his ministry.  Here is where the poor spent much of their time as they had no where to go to sleep, eat any food they could find, and ended up in companionship with others like themselves.

On the TV news reports we see a series of tents along the streets in many cities, especially NYC and some California areas.  It should not be the question of how to rid the streets of these people but what can we do with their plight and help them.  After all, we must concern ourselves with the mandate of God to care for those among us who are too weak or have no reason to adapt in society.  

These people covering themselves behind curtains or boxes are still our brothers and sisters and most definitely children of God; created by him and just like us are needy for companionship as well as life giving sustenance to exist.

As soon as we stand in judgment of their plight we have become like the final judge of eternity; God himself.  From James we read; For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.  If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.  There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or destroy,  Who then are you to judge your neighbor?  (Jas 2: 13; 4: 11b - 12).  

Each time we join with the media and politicians who render reasons to eliminate the poor from the streets without mercy on their condition are standing in as a judge on them and not the problem of society’s inhuman concern for those among us that are silently crying out for help; and no one seems to care.

Jesus said the poor you will always have with you, but did not seem to say let them exist.  This statement was to indicate he as Savior would not remain with them.  (Mt 26: 11).  A woman was anointing his feet as a sign of his impending period before the Crucifixion.  The statement was to counter the disciples' complaint that the oil could’ve been sold for money for the poor.

These unfortunate souls are still flesh and blood, just like us.  Ignoring those that we could help will be the ones who will stand at our judgment and wait to see if we will find a defense for our inability to render some type of assistance during their plight.  We might be like the rich man on whose walkway sat the beggar Lazurus and the rich man had to step across him as he went his way, never really seeing the beggar.  (Lk 16: 19 - 31).

Ralph B. Hathaway