REALIZE
I chose “Realize” as my pondering word this year. I continue praying, asking God to show me my
blind spots.
REALIZE CHRISTIAN TRADITION ON FEEDING THE POOR
I did not realize the Tradition of Christianity on feeding
the poor. Thomas Aquinas, “in case of
need all things are common property. The
implication is that there would seem to be no sin in tanking another’s
property, for need has made it common… since… there are many who are in need. While it is impossible for all to be succored
by means of the same thing, each one is entrusted with the stewardship of his
own things, so that out of them he may come to aid of those who are in
need. He stated, “It is morally
permissible for the extremely impoverished person to take what he or she needs
for the substance from the person with plenty.
His main point is about the rights, the claim-rights, of the poor. Going back in our Christian Tradition,
Ambrose (340-397): “Not from your own do
you bestow upon the poor man, but you make return from what is his”
Also Basil of Caesarea (330-379):
Will not one be called a thief who steals the garment of one
already clothed, and is one deserving of any other title who will not clothe
the naked if he is able to do so ?
The bread that you keep belongs to the hungry; that coat
which you preserve in your wardrobe, to the naked; those shoes that are rotting
in your possession, to the shoeless; that gold which you have hidden in the
ground, to the needy. Wherefore as often
as you were able to help others, and refused, so often did you do them
wrong.
John Chrysostom stated, “This also is theft, not to share
one’s possessions. Perhaps this statement
seems surprising to you, but do not be surprised. Scriptures say that not only the theft of
other’s goods but also the failure to share one’s own goods with others is theft,
swindle, and degradation.
The rich man is a kind of steward of the money that is owned
for distribution to the poor. He is
directed to distribute it to his fellow servants who are in want. Therefore, if he spends more on himself than
his needs require, he will pay the harshest penalty hereafter. For his own goods are not his own, but belong
to his fellow servants.
I beg you remember this without fail, that not to share our
own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means
of life; we do not possess our own wealth but theirs.
It is not about the moral failure of the rich, but about the
moral injury to the poor who do not enjoy that to which they have a right.
What Are We Willing to Sacrifice for Justice?
An article asks this question on the United Methodist Women's
Web site. HTTPS://WWW.UNITEDMETHODISTWOMEN.ORG/NEWS/MLK2015,
What Are We Willing to Sacrifice for
Justice? by Janis Rosheuvel and the
Rev. Dionne P. Boissière
REALIZE NOW
The statistics are provided on their web site.
