O for the P

The Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Positive signs in the contemporary world are the growing awareness of the solidarity of the poor among themselves, their efforts to support one another, and their public demonstrations on the social scene which, without recourse to violence, present their own needs and rights in the face of the inefficiency or corruption of public authorities. By virtue of her own evangelical duty the Church feels called to take her stand beside the poor, to discern the justice of their requests, and to help satisfy them, without losing sight of the good of groups in the context of the common good. (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, para. 39)

As followers of Christ, we are challenged to make a preferential option for the poor, namely, to create conditions for marginalized voices to be heard, to defend the defenseless, and to assess lifestyles, policies and social institutions in terms of their impact on the poor. The option for the poor does not mean pitting one group against another, but rather, it calls us to strengthen the whole community by assisting those who are most vulnerable.

From the Scriptures we learn that the justice of a society is tested and judged by its treatment of the poor. God’s covenant with Israel was dependant on the way the community treated the poor and unprotected—the widow, the orphan and the stranger (Deut. 16.11-12, Ex. 22.21-27, Isa. 1.16-17). Throughout Israel’s history and in the New Testament, the poor are agents of God’s transforming power. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus proclaims that he has been anointed to bring good news to the poor (4.1-22). Similarly, in the Last Judgment, we are told that we will be judged according to how we respond to the hungry, the thirsty, the prisoner and the stranger (Matthew 25.31-46).

Therefore, the preferential option for the poor is not optional. Each Christian must make a choice to lift up the poor and disadvantaged in very real and concrete ways. Preferential option for the poor means that Christians are called to look at the world from the perspective of the marginalized and to work in solidarity for justice.

Student Reflection:
The option for the poor asks everyone to realize the plight of those who struggle to survive, and to put the needs of these most vulnerable members of society ahead of individual selfish interests…We can never stop questioning an oppressive system that forces billions of our brothers and sisters in our country and around the world to live in poverty. We need to ask “why?” Why are people starving around the world? How can the United States, the richest nation in the world, allow its people to live in poverty, to be homeless in the “land of opportunity,” to lack good education and adequate health care and to starve to death?…What occurs in the United States and throughout the world that allows so many to have so little when so few have so much? As one of the elite—the fed, the clothed, the sheltered, the educated—what are my responsibilities as I step out into this unjust world society and try to make my way?-- Christine Raslavsky, Seminar on Poverty and Development in Chile, 1995.

Questions for discussion/reflection:
1. The Bishop’s Pastoral on the U.S. Economy states, “Followers of Christ must avoid a tragic separation between faith and everyday life…economic life is one of the chief areas where we live out our faith [and] love our neighbor.” In what ways ought we manage our economic resources as faithful Christians? In what ways are you conscious of those who are economically poor or disadvantaged?
2. What are some very concrete ways that you can make a preferential option for the poor?
3. Are we collectively responsible for the conditions of poverty both locally and globally? What can you do both directly and indirectly to work for change?

http://centerforsocialconcerns.nd.edu/mission/cst/cst4.shtml

Psalm 73

21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

A Great Summer...

Yeah, I'm excited...

None But Jesus-Hillsong United

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose

There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will

When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days

All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore

Photography, Vocabulary, and the Lottery

What do those three things have in common? Well, nothing actually. But those three things are the topic of this post! So today is Thursday, the day before Good Friday, which we have off from school. In other words, everyone is going home today...except me, of course. See, I have a Ballroom Dancing class TONIGHT that was NOT canceled at 7 pm. "Why don't you skip?" you may ask yourself. Well, it's a pass/fail class, and you if you miss more than three classes you fail. Unfortunately, I've already missed three.

I say all that to make the point that I am still here and therefore have had a lot of free time today since my only class got over at like 11:15. So, I decided I would go to my favorite park in town and just chill! It's quite a popular park, with its landscaping, greenery, and waterfall. Thus, you'll often see people there taking pictures. Well, I didn't think that it being so near to Easter, that people would be there in their pretty little 'Easter outfits.' While I was there, there were two different moms there with their respective children. And I think I learned a life lesson: Never photograph your on kids. Just don't do it. I mean, you know the moms were asking for it, just having the kids all dressed up. And besides, what do kids want to do in a nice big open green space? Play, run around, goof off, etc. Not take pictures. I found it quite hilarious, and a few times downright disturbing, as the mom would yell at her kids to get their attention. "Nate! Nate! Look at me honey. Blu blu blu blu blu (strange high-pitched sound remenicient of a chicken)! Nate! NAAAAAATTTEEE!" I mean, really, is that necessary. What kid wants to listen to mommy tell them how to sit and where to look when the sun is out, the grass is soft, and there's a nice breeze?

Ok, now to vocabulary. So, while trying not to be distracted in the park, I did what I came to do-read. I actually started reading a book that was NOT required for class. Those are the best kind! It's Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. He's a journalist who became friends with a doctor named Paul Farmer who does tons of volunteer work in Haiti and elsewhere in the world. I just started the book today, so this won't be a review. Rather, in only reading a few pages, I learned some cool new vocabulary:

haranguing: (noun) a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe
ebullience: (noun) high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance

And now to the last topic, the lottery. So at Mercer we have a lottery system to determine housing assignments for next year. Some of my good friends who are living together got pretty shafted. Seriously, their numbers were like 456, 475, 476, 460...out of like 500 or so, which means that's their position in line to get their desired housing. AKA, they likely won't get their desired housing. Not cool. They're pretty upset, and I would be too. Seniors get the low end it seems.

Well that's all for now. I'm out like a skanky trout.