By Stanislaus Alla
New Delhi, Nov 18, 2023: Each year, on the Sunday before the Catholic Church liturgically celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King (that normally occurs towards the end of November) Pope Francis wants all of us, all people across the world, to remember the poor.
Since its inception in 2017, several events around the “World Day of the Poor” are organized by the Vatican and this year the theme chosen is “Do not look away from the poor” (Tobit 4,7). On November 19, after a Papal Mass, the Dicastery for the Service of Charity will host the poor at the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.
Besides the meal, medical services would be provided to the poor. Symbolically, these gestures remind that the Temporal Works of Mercy have been an indispensable part of the Church’s identity, life and mission.
‘Not to look away from the poor’ is more than an appeal from Pope Francis. Social scientists and several Popes remind that poverty is a scandal and is largely avoidable. The Catholic Church’s Social Teachings emphatically remind that God’s gifts are destined for all and all kinds of resources as well as the created-wealth is meant for all, for the wellbeing of all.
Economic models that fail to realize God’s design are in need of review and revision. The World Day of the Poor is a stark reminder that there is enough wealth in the world that, if it is fairly distributed, the world’s poor, even if they are born poor, need not live and die poor.
Many of us learn from the families and from the social contexts that helping the poor (in light of Mathew 25) goes hand in hand with being an authentic Christian. While we foster a culture that does not make us turn away from the poor, it is equally important to ask critically important questions: what is there in us, in our attitudes, in our mindset and in our culture that upholds and perpetuates poverty? Can our communities, be they our families or parishes or the larger society, be proactive in confronting poverty and promoting an alternative culture that cherishes sharing!
Apart from the many events that are organized in the context of the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis challenges us all, in the Synodal spirit, to encounter the poor, to listen to poor, to learn from the poor. It is difficult but those who venture might be delightfully surprised: at such heartfelt-encounters and sharing, more than giving, we receive -a measure of joy that is profoundly simple and unalloyed.
If you are looking for a thought that can linger on your heart (something that fascinated the Gospel-lovers for millennia) is why Jesus named the poor man, (Lazarus, meaning God is my help) and did not name of the wealthy person? Let your heart wrestle with this thought and let Jesus speak to your heart.
(Jesuit Father Stanislaus Alla is a professor of Moral Theology at Delhi’s Vidyajyoti College of Theology.)