The Rich and the Poor

Jesus, in line with the prophets within his Jewish religion, criticized the wealthy for their oppression of the poor. The beatitudes and many of his parables express his concern for the poor, his expectations of the rich, and his opinion of the powerful. His focus was on the life in God available to all, poor and rich, but perhaps more often accepted by the poor.

Yesterday's news included an Associated Press article on the widening income gap between the richest 10% of Americans and the poorest 10%. The opening paragraph of the article states: "The recession has hit middle-income and poor families hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets." Elsewhere I read that the gap is now wider than at any time since 1917! And still, some advocate cutting taxes for the wealthy!

The earliest Christians are said to have decided to pool their goods and allocate large sums of money for the care of widows, orphans, the sick and the imprisoned. They lived at a time when the oppressions of wealth and power were greater than we in this country experience now, but they found the will share, to care for those who relied on the mercy of others to survive.

May we find ways to use our democratic system to ensure that the poor, the sick and those without ways of earning what they need, get food, shelter, respect and health care. May we examine our own attitudes towards money and power and turn towards the God who creates, sustains and blesses all life.