Preferential Option for the Poor

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of action to address the rifts in our society in response to which the Church proclaims a preferential option for the poor.

Attitude conversion

The Prophet Micah declares the injustice done to the poor will be reversed by God.

* [2:1–5] The cry “Ah” (hoy) begins a typical prophetic speech that is usually continued, as here (vv. 1–2), by a description of the addressees in terms of their unrighteous activities. This description is an indictment which gives the reasons for punishment announced to a particular group of people (vv. 3–5). The prophet spells out the crimes; the Lord announces the punishment, which corresponds to the crime: those who take the land of others will have their own land taken.

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus addresses the growing frustration of the religious authorities who wish Him dead by adopting the attitude of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah.

* [12:15–21] Matthew follows Mk 3:7–12 but summarizes his source in two verses (Mt 12:15, 16) that pick up the withdrawal, the healings, and the command for silence. To this he adds a fulfillment citation from the first Servant Song (Is 42:1–4) that does not correspond exactly to either the Hebrew or the LXX of that passage. It is the longest Old Testament citation in this gospel, emphasizing the meekness of Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, and foretelling the extension of his mission to the Gentiles.

Joe Zabroroski declares that today’s readings and the psalms scream for justice.

Involvement was needed to answer the scream for justice.

Daniel R. DiLeo advocates increased efforts at Jesuit institutions to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on the poor.

In particular, Francis observes that climate change harms the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized persons and communities more than all others (No. 25). Additionally, the pope points out that much global“warming is caused by huge consumption on the part of rich countries”(No. 51). As such, Francis says that rich nations owe an ecological debt to poor nations (No. 51).
In order to redress the injustices of ecological debt, Francis highlights the importance of the common good,solidarity, the preferential option for the poor, and the universal destination of goods(No. 158, 93). Moreover, the pope insists that “there are differentiated responsibilities”between rich and poor nations regarding climate change (No. 52).

Social conservative R. R. Reno comments on applying the preferential option for the poor.

A Christian who hopes to follow the teachings of Jesus needs to reckon with a singular fact about American poverty: Its deepest and most debilitating deficits are moral, not financial; the most serious deprivations are cultural, not economic. Many people living at the bottom of American society have cell phones, flat-screen TVs, and some of the other goodies of consumer culture. But their lives are a mess

Don Schwager comments on Justice tempered with love and mercy.

Jesus brings the justice of God's kingdom tempered with divine love and mercy. He does not bruise the weak or treat them with contempt, but rather shows understanding and compassion. He does not discourage the fainthearted but gives hope, courage, and the strength to persevere through trying circumstances. No trials, failings, and weaknesses can keep us from the mercy and help which Jesus offers to everyone who asks. His grace is sufficient for every moment, every situation, and every challenge we face.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 12:14-21 reminds us that Jesus always maintained an attitude of love, whether he withdrew or engaged.

When you catch yourself getting agitated, stop and discern! What’s your goal? Or, to be more precise, what is God’s goal in this situation? If you sense that it is better to forbear, then pull back, just as Jesus did. If you think that it’s appropriate to continue the conversation, ask the Spirit for compassion. Try to speak words that bring peace rather than animosity, words that build up rather than discourage.

Friar Jude Winkler provides background on the experience of Micah in a small garrison town in the the of Isaiah. God is a guarantor of justice in the land. Living in God’s justice is the reward. Friar Jude connects the teaching of Jesus in the Gospel to the Songs of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah and the appearance of the Son of Man in Daniel.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, asserts that Contemplative Christians can model a way of building a collaborative, compassionate politics. He cites The People’s Supper, a nonprofit “building community through better conversations,” that offers a helpful framework for purposeful meals. Their goal is “to repair the breach in our interpersonal relationships across political, ideological, and identity differences, leading to more civil discourse. And, we plan to do it in the most nourishing way we know—over supper!”

This isn’t about a political party, or what is or isn’t happening in Washington. It’s about us, and our relationship to one another. Too often, we exist in echo chambers and see each other as monoliths: one-sided stereotypes who can be reduced to a single word or phrase.
Instead, we want to go beneath the headlines, to see each other as real people with real struggles, real fears, real hopes, and real dreams.

Action by Christians to move inspired by the Spirit to heal the divisions in discourse among people may be our Way to model Jesus as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah.

References


(n.d.). Micah, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/micah/2

(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/12

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved July 21, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

(2016, November 4). Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor: "Laudato Si'" and Jesuit Higher .... Retrieved July 21, 2018, from http://www.conversationsmagazine.org/web-features/2016/10/21/cry-of-the-earth-cry-of-the-poor-laudato-si-and-jesuit-higher-education

(2011, June 1). The Preferential Option for the Poor by R. R. Reno | Articles | First Things. Retrieved July 21, 2018, from https://www.firstthings.com/article/2011/06/the-preferential-option-for-the-poor

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 21, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved July 21, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(n.d.). Archive - Daily Meditations Archive - Center for Action and .... Retrieved July 21, 2018, from https://cac.org/richard-rohr/daily-meditations/daily-meditations-archive/