Abolish Poverty, End Suffering — Part Two
In my previous article on this topic, #AbolishPovertyEndSuffering, we asserted that: “Community of Christ pursues Christ’s mission to abolish poverty and end suffering. This profound call is deeply rooted in Judeo-Christian teachings and scripture related to justice for the poor.” Using a brief review of scripture, I suggested that “throughout the law, the writings and the prophets, the Hebrew Scriptures cry out for justice for the poor.”
In part two, let’s consider how profoundly this ethic shaped the Jesus movement. Jesus very calling is to preach “the gospel to the poor.” (Luke 4:18-19).
In looking at the Jesus movement, it is important to understand that Jesus seems to have inherited many followers from John the Baptist who was preparing the way. It is therefore notable that the enduring principle to abolish poverty and end suffering is apparent in the teachings of John the Baptist:
And the crowds asked [John the Baptist], “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Luke 3:10-11
The beatitudes are most closely associated with Matthew’s gospel in the fifth chapter where we read:
Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.—Matthew 5:2-3
Luke’s gospel has Jesus phrasing the sayings only slightly differently:
Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.—Luke 6:20-21
And as we have said, Jesus borrowed from the Hebrew Scriptures to announce his mission on earth as one to bring the good news to the poor:
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’— Luke 4:16-19
Not only was Jesus gospel one of good news to the poor, Jesus more than once proclaimed that wealth and riches could be an obstacle to a healthy spiritual life. The gospel of Mark records Jesus giving this hard advice to a rich man:
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. —Mark 10:21-22
And the gospel of Luke, portrays Jesus as criticizing the hypocrisy and lack of concern for love and justice by the religious group known as Pharisees.
Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God.—Luke 11:39-42
By way of contrast, Jesus saw even the meagerest of generosity from those who were poor and destitute as of great spiritual import. Once again, Mark’s gospel records Jesus making such an observation:
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” —Mark 12:41-44
Much has been written about Jesus table fellowship and open meal commensality. Jesus table fellowship is critical to an understanding of the Jesus movement and can be explored in many dimensions including radical inclusion, radical hospitality and radical justice for the poor. In Luke, Jesus offered advice for such open table fellowship and framed it in terms of radical hospitality and inclusiveness.
He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” —Luke 14:12-14
For many Christians, the standard of good conduct for one’s life is summed up in the famous vision of the “judgement of the nations” contained in Matthew 25. The passage has elements of parable, poetry and the prophetic call to justice. The enduring principle to Abolish Poverty, End Suffering was indeed instituted in the teachings of Jesus and nowhere more beautifully than in Matthew 25:
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” —Matthew 25:34-36
Download or open the Community of Christ app on your smartphone or visit www.cofchrist.org to read today’s Daily Bread and Prayer for Peace. After reading the Daily Bread, consider these questions:
What hymn text reflects your journey with God?
What does it mean to you to follow God even when you aren’t sure where you are being led?
As you listen to the sound of your own breathing, consider the prayer phrase “God of the poor…”
Pray: God of justice and shalom, help us to learn to cry out for the rights of the poor. Help us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and prisoners. Forgive us when we fall short of your calling and lift us up to be transformed for service to the poor I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Read Luke:
“Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God.—Luke 11:39-42
What word or phrase caught your attention in this passage?
Read the passage again. How is this passage speaking to you today?
Pray the Mission Prayer: God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me the courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace. Amen.
2021 Guiding Question: Are we moving towards Jesus, the peaceful One?
Part 2 of 3.