The Poor at the Heart of the Gospel

On Sunday, November 15, the Fourth World Day of the Poor was celebrated, strongly desired by Pope Francis. Every year, through this initiative, we return to focusing on «this reality that is fundamental to the life of the Church, because the poor are and will always be with us (cf. Jn 12:8) to help us welcome the companionship of Christ in our daily lives» (Pope Francis, Message for the Fourth World Day of the Poor). The invitation that comes from this Sunday is to reach out to the poor and take care of the weakest.

In the homily Pope Francis delivered at the Vatican Basilica, he emphasized the importance of the talents that the Lord has given to each person; he recalled that the Lord trusts each one of us and makes us instruments for bringing his Gospel to others.
To be able to see all this, however, we must be careful not to fall into what the Holy Father called the “if only” temptation: «Too often, looking at our lives, we see only what we lack and complain about what we lack. Then we give in to the temptation of “if only!…”: if only I had that job, if only I had that house, if only I had money and success, if only I did not have that problem, if only I had better people around me!… But the illusion of “if only” prevents us from seeing the good and makes us forget the talents we have. Yes, you do not have that, but you have this, and “if only” makes us forget this. But God has entrusted them to us because he knows each one of us and knows what we are capable of; he trusts us, despite our weaknesses. He also trusts that servant who will hide the talent: God hopes that, despite his fears, he too will make good use of what he has received».

Pope Francis reaffirmed forcefully: «Do not forget: the poor are at the heart of the Gospel; the Gospel cannot be understood without the poor. The poor are part of Jesus’ very identity, who, though rich, emptied himself, became poor, became sin, the ugliest form of poverty. The poor guarantee us an eternal return and already now enable us to grow rich in love. Because the greatest poverty to combat is our poverty of love. The greatest poverty to combat is our poverty of love».
Therefore, starting from an awareness of the trust that the Lord places in us, Pope Francis calls everyone not to allow themselves to be infected by indifference: «Today, in these times of uncertainty, in these times of fragility, let us not waste our lives by thinking only of ourselves, with that attitude of indifference. Let us not delude ourselves by saying: “There is peace and security!” (1 Thess 5:3). Saint Paul invites us to face reality, not to allow ourselves to be infected by indifference».

This warning seems to resonate even more strongly in this mid-November period, which prepares us for a Christmas that will probably be different from those we have experienced so far, given the health emergency in which the whole world is immersed, but which must not make us forget the true meaning of Christian Christmas and the question underlying it: «The time of Christmas, the time of the holidays, is approaching. How often is the question many people ask: “What can I buy? What more can I have? I have to go to the shops to buy things”. Let us say the other words: “What can I give to others?”. To be like Jesus, who gave himself and was born precisely in that manger».
Let us therefore feel called by the Lord to make our talents bear fruit; let us feel called to keep an attentive eye on others and on the many forms of poverty (not only material but also spiritual) that we may encounter every day along our path.
Let us not allow ourselves to be infected by indifference!

The best way to conclude this reflection seems to us to be the Simple Prayer of Saint Francis, with which we greet you, wishing you a good journey!

Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace:
where there is hatred, let me bring Love,
where there is offense, let me bring Forgiveness,
where there is discord, let me bring Union.
Lord, where there is doubt, let me bring Faith,
where there is error, let me bring Truth,
and where there is despair, Hope,
where there is sadness, let me bring Joy,
where there is darkness, let me bring Light.
Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that one receives,
it is in forgiving that one is forgiven,
and it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace:
where there is hatred, let me bring Love,
and where there is despair, Hope,
where there is sadness, let me bring Joy,
where there is darkness, let me bring Light.
Let me bring Faith, let me bring Hope,
let me bring Joy, let me bring Light.
Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace:
where there is hatred, let me bring Love,
where there is offense, let me bring Forgiveness,
where there is discord, let me bring Union.
Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace.