杏MAP导航

By Joseph Tulloch

杏MAP导航 Francis has for the annual World Day of the Poor, stressing that a 鈥済reat river of poverty is traversing our cities鈥�, and that every Christian is called to become 鈥減ersonally involved鈥� in the struggle against it.

His message for the World Day, which will be celebrated this year on Sunday 19th November, takes the form of an extended reflection on the Book of Tobit.

The scale of the problem

杏MAP导航 Francis begins his message by stressing that 鈥渁 great river of poverty is traversing our cities and swelling to the point of overflowing; it seems to overwhelm us, so great are the needs of our brothers and sisters who plead for our help, support and solidarity.鈥�

鈥淲e are living鈥�, he continues, 鈥渋n times that are not particularly sensitive to the needs of the poor.  The pressure to adopt an affluent lifestyle increases, while the voices of those dwelling in poverty tend to go unheard."

In particular, he stresses 鈥渘ew forms of poverty鈥�, such as 鈥減eoples caught up in situations of war鈥�, the 鈥渋nhumane treatment鈥� of many workers, and 鈥渟peculation in various sectors鈥�, which he said had led to 鈥渄ramatic price increases that further impoverish many families鈥�.

Our response

Faced with problems of this magnitude, 杏MAP导航 Francis writes, our responsibility is clear. We must heed Tobit鈥檚 words to Tobias: 鈥溾�淒o not turn your face away from anyone who is poor.鈥�

鈥淚n a word,鈥� he continues, 鈥渨henever we encounter a poor person, we cannot look away, for that would prevent us from encountering the face of the Lord Jesus."

Thus, 鈥渢he parable of the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk 10:25-37) is not simply a story from the past; it continues to challenge each of us in the here and now of our daily lives.  It is easy to delegate charity to others, yet the calling of every Christian is to become personally involved.鈥�

The political process

杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to point out that this year is the 60th anniversary of the publication of 杏MAP导航 John XXIII鈥檚 landmark encyclical Pacem in Terris, in which he urged that 鈥淓very human being enjoys the right to life, to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, including food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services.鈥�

How to act, 杏MAP导航 Francis asks, in the face of the failure of the political process to deliver these goods?

The answer, he says, is two-fold. There is, one the one hand, 鈥渁 need to urge and even pressure public institutions to perform their duties properly鈥�, but, on the other, 鈥渋t is of no use to wait passively to receive everything 鈥榝rom on high鈥欌��. 

Those living in poverty, 杏MAP导航 Francis stresses, ought also to be included in this search for 鈥渃hange and responsibility.鈥�