Pauses for Lent Day 19
Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson
Word for Day 19: POOR
Scripture: “He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” Luke 4:18
The word poor appears many times in the Bible. The poor have a special place in God’s heart. In Psalms, God rescues the poor, defends the poor, and hears their cry. Not surprisingly, Jesus places sharing the good news with the poor at the top of his priorities for ministry.
The devastating suffering of poverty causes God to weep. Sharing God’s grief means we act in whatever ways we can to bridge the gap between the rich and poor. Lent challenges us to examine how we relate to those who are impoverished. We can learn more about poverty, and ask how God is calling us to help in efforts aimed at alleviating poverty.
Comment from Marie: I have kept on display a newspaper clip quoting Nelson Mandela in my office for many years. I still have it where I can see it. It reads, “Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times. Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.” Please share your thoughts on today’s word.
Word for Day 19: POOR
Scripture: “He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” Luke 4:18
The word poor appears many times in the Bible. The poor have a special place in God’s heart. In Psalms, God rescues the poor, defends the poor, and hears their cry. Not surprisingly, Jesus places sharing the good news with the poor at the top of his priorities for ministry.
The devastating suffering of poverty causes God to weep. Sharing God’s grief means we act in whatever ways we can to bridge the gap between the rich and poor. Lent challenges us to examine how we relate to those who are impoverished. We can learn more about poverty, and ask how God is calling us to help in efforts aimed at alleviating poverty.
Comment from Marie: I have kept on display a newspaper clip quoting Nelson Mandela in my office for many years. I still have it where I can see it. It reads, “Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times. Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.” Please share your thoughts on today’s word.
3 Comments
When I see how much money is spent on political campaigns, it makes me angry and breaks my heart too. The inequality in our country and in the world is out of control. All I can do is remember, and act on, what Jeremy preaches, “I can’t do everything, but I can do something.”
The saying that the rich get rich and the poor get poorer is sadly still true. We pay athletes and actors obscene amounts of money and worship them as false God's. How much more could be done to help eliminate poverty in the world if we stopped those practices and helped the poor to better themselves.
I agree with all your comments. Nicely said.