Ending Poverty

Is there a way to end poverty or not?

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, "Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. - Matthew 26:6-11

Today’s Gospel contains some sobering words from Jesus.  You will always have the poor. 

Is that a good thing?   Is he just laying the truth out there for all to see?   Will we never find a way to help people lift themselves out of poverty?

Jesus spoke a great deal about wealth and money.  It may have been his main, go-to topic, and it was definitely the topic many of his followers wanted to hear about.

Some of his parables referenced enormous amounts of wealth, from the landowner to the woman looking for her coin.  Money and the lack of it generated interest in his message, for his message was about sharing and caring for others.

So, was he claiming defeat when he said the poor will always be with them, long after he is gone?

I think his words are designed to challenge us, rather than to leave us without hope.

When the disciples focused on the money the woman used to buy the oil, they were judging her.  She made a bad a choice, and Jesus, by letting her waste the oil on himself, was complicit.

What right did they have to judge her and him?

No matter what someone gives to those who have less, there will always be someone else who has even less.

Acknowledging that is not giving up on the war on poverty.  It is admitting that we will never be satisfied with the outcome when we try to balance the scales for all.  Someone will always appear slighted.

It is not that the poor will never be rich, but that dividing up the riches among all will never be enough. 

We will always be like the disciples, judging others for what they could have done, claiming we are more righteous.

In Chicago, lawmakers have proposed an experiment to give 1000 families $500 per month with no strings attached.  They believe this will help people rise out of poverty.

But is it enough? 

How much will $500 buy?

Non profits can stretch the dollars they receive to buy much more than any of us can get in a supermarket.  Between donations of food and wholesale pricing, they can double or triple the buying power of every dollar received.

So, wouldn't it make more sense to give that money to them and let them pass along the savings to those in need?

But there is more to Jesus' message about loving one another than giving money.  He valued the experience of being together, spending time getting to know each other, listening and sharing.

The woman with the alabaster jar was given a chance to do something for him that made her feel good, and let him know she cared.

If we want to make a dent in poverty, we need to get to know one another.  Hand outs are impersonal.  Eating together is very personal.

If we want to take a clue from Jesus, we should gather together at table with strangers and treat each other as family.

Perhaps then, we will have a common bond that will help us make a difference.

So, come.  Eat.  And share the love.

More to come...