At this Christmas time, many Christians take stock and think about ways to be better people. Do we forget to also take a look at our personal impact on the community around us? Sometimes I think our greatest failure in living according to Jesus’ teachings may be our failure to end poverty and suffering in the United States and around the world.
No one likes to think about poverty. When confronted with the immense suffering from this preventable condition, many of us echo Cain’s indignant reply to the Lord: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) Throughout the Gospel, Jesus repeatedly answers this question with a resounding “YES!”
Indeed, the parable of the Good Samaritan is Jesus’ answer to the question: “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29-37) In this tale, a man is robbed and left for dead. Though a priest and a lay-associate of his religion each pass him by, a Samaritan (a member of a different and sometimes hostile people) stops, cares for his wounds and sets him up at an inn. Jesus repeatedly urged disciples, followers, and anyone who would listen to show the same compassion for all who suffer. He suggested that the higher honor is in caring for those we might judge “undeserving”.
Jesus placed no qualification on our obligation to help the poor and alleviate the suffering of the sick and the disabled. Nowhere did He suggest that there was some class of “undeserving poor” who should be ineligible for charity. In teachings so full of nuance and ambiguity, it is striking how unequivocal Jesus was in this regard.
Though He admonished sinners to change their ways and return to God, He didn’t make renunciation of sin a condition of charity. He repeatedly elevated compassion and charity as higher virtues than compliance with the Ten Commandments, though He called for both.
Should we fight poverty only through individual giving, not through governmental aid? The fact is, there are some challenges that only government can meet. When America is ready for this big commitment of compassion, our great nation can surely get the job done. If there is a way to eliminate poverty, wouldn’t Jesus want us to just go out and do it?
In today’s reality, we have finally reached a point where rich countries like ours could eliminate poverty at home and abroad, at a comparatively modest cost. How can we face God this Christmas without committing ourselves to doing just that?
What can you do to move our society down the road to eliminating poverty? For starters, visit www.globalrichlist.com to discover just how well off you are. For instance, you’ll find that a Maine family with just $20,000 per year gross income is in the top 11.1 percent of the whole world. At www.unmillenniumproject.org you will see that a commitment of just 70 cents of each $100 of income or .7 percent (not even close to a 10 percent tithe) is needed to end extreme poverty on the planet. You can give of your abundance to assure “saints and sinners alike” are raised out of poverty.
Then, call your state senator and representative. Ask them to vote for the minimum wage increase, one step toward providing a living wage to all working Mainers. You can also contact your U.S. representative and senators. Urge them to support much stronger foreign aid programs to eliminate poverty abroad, and fairer wage and tax policies at home.
We celebrate Christmas in many ways. In His honor, let’s make sure we always
take some time to speak up for a just world.
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