Poor

Today’s Gospel Text:  Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Laz'arus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Laz'arus was one of those at table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. 8 The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

9 When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Laz'arus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests planned to put Laz'arus also to death, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. John 12:1-11

Reflection: When you know for sure that a person is a rascal or at least judged them to be one then almost everything the person does and says is considered as evil, even if that person means good.

On the other hand if you consider a person as good and decent even if they may not be one, then almost everything that person says is considered as good, even if their intention may be that of a scoundrel.

In the light of this theory we must analyze the statement of Judas minus the subsequent judgment of the same Scripture passage.

You throw it up at any gathering, even in the most holy gathering of the churchmen and you will find plenty of takers for this statement of Judas: "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"

O how the hearts of the many beat for the poor and the downtrodden and there are people who may even give dedicatedly for their cause. 

But not all of these philanthropy for the poor is really for the poor but many of it is for either political gain, wealth gain, publicity gain, divine gain and self gain with the aim of assuaging their guilt for robbing the many.

Who is interested in judging the individual consciences?

What we as Christians are interested, when serving the poor, is their own gain; their salvation, and the gospel of Christ is the greatest wealth that any poor can have.  

It would always be right that the church primarily sticks to the divine injunction and be less worried about meeting the worldly need of the poor unless circumstances, on account of their poor state necessitates it, without compromising the divine priority. Leave the rest to the state and the NGO's. 

We need to first understand that there is a God in heaven who cares for them and the poor needs to be introduced to him first, as of first priority, then follows other priorities: - This holds  true not just for them but for every individual too. (cfr. Mt. 6:33)

Prayer: Lord, you have blessed the many poor with a rich faith to believe in your good news. May the church never tire from proclaiming this good news to all.

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