Preferential Option for the Poor -- Am I Doing My Part?

by Jacki Popadich

I had fifty cents to my name. No kidding. I had just hopped off the bus on Washtenaw Avenue and had begun my 6-block hike to work. As I was heading past the library I heard a familiar call. "Hey, sweetie, can you spare some change?"

Every Little Bit Counts

I turned around to see an old man in a wheelchair. I stopped for a second to think. I'm on my way to wait tables in a busy restaurant, but it's a Monday, notorious for being a slow day. There's no guarantee that I'll even make enough for bus fare home.

But it was only fifty cents -- so I figured I might as well. He probably needed it more than I did anyway. And so I dug into my pocket, produced the change and continued on my way.

Called to Assist

The preferential option for the poor, despite its name, is a requisite for Christians. It is up to us to care for, aid and assist the poor -- the vulnerable and the marginalized of our society -- in our continuation of the mission of Christ.

But who are these poor, and why should we help them? We can look at the Beatitudes to help identify them: the impoverished, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who are persecuted. In Jesus' day, most of the people he spent his time with were the poor. He dealt with women, children, the sick and dying. You get the picture.

Throughout scripture, and especially in Luke's gospel, we find examples of God's justice going out to the little ones. When Jesus describes the Reign of God as a banquet, he points out that "those who exalt themselves shall be humbled, and those who humble themselves shall be exalted" (Lk 14:11).

Jesus reads a scroll from Isaiah which says, "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 favor." He then goes on to tell those in the synagogue that this passage was fulfilled that day (Lk 4:17-21).

One Option -- Many Opportunities

The precedent to care for the poor has been set, but the poor of today aren't who you think they might be. Sure, they're a lot of the same people Jesus cared for, but the idea of the "poor" today includes the elderly, the unborn, and the kids at school who don't have anyone to eat lunch with.

Because Jesus reached out to the poor and the vulnerable, we must do so as well. It can be as simple as handing over a buck or two to the guy in the park, or spending time with someone who doesn't have a lot of loved ones around.

Or it can be more involved, such as joining up with the pro-life movement to protest abortion, suicide, euthanasia, capital punishment and war. Or it could be pitching in with Habitat for Humanity, which can help these vulnerable to help themselves.

The preferential option for the poor isn't an option. It is not just a way of life. Because we are Christians, trying to follow Jesus' lead, it is the way of life. So when you think about our obligation to help the poor, ask yourself this: "Am I doing my part?"

Life Applications:

Who are the "poor" in your life?
What opportunities do your community provide to exercise their option to the poor?
How can you get involved?

Copyright 2002-2008 by Jacki Popadich
All rights reserved.