Tag Archives: poor

Jesus Elevates the Poor 

Luke records the sermon on the plain in Luke 6:17-26. This discourse parallels the sermon on the mount found in the Gospel of Matthew. The teaching is so similar and yet very different. Matthew’s “sermon on the mount” hits hard on morality, but Luke’s “sermon on the plain” hits hard on lived experience. Jesus elevates the poor and speaks against the rich and powerful. These beatitudes don’t allow us to spiritualize the message. Jesus plainly tells them that the outcast, the poor, the rejected, and the grieving will be blessed. God sees and rewards the excluded and abused. Luke then lists woes for those who are rich, powerful, and influential in this life. He tells them with a tone of judgment that their riches will cause them turmoil and distress.

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The Rich and the Poor

rich and poor

Jesus delivers “blessings and woes” to the rich and the poor in Luke 6:20-26. The woes are for the rich. Jesus didn’t give a nod to the rich people who were merely hard workers or well-meaning. He didn’t take the time to differentiate between those who were abusing their privileges or not.

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Generosity of the Poor

generosity of the poor

24th Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 12:38-44

God doesn’t need us to be God’s venture capitalist. Maybe that’s so obvious as to be comical. On the other hand, some may see their acts of charity as crucial in the grand scheme of things. The rich might go so far as to publicly deride the generosity of the poor for their inability to do much financial good with their meager donations. That contrast is the point of this lesson.

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Jesus, Have Mercy on Me!

Have mercy!

22nd Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 10:46-52

The sad truth is, often you have to be your own advocate. Even when people can see the issue you’re facing, even when they can see the turmoil you’re in, they still might not care. The good news is, we can all approach God with our need. As I wrote in Approach the Throne of Grace with Boldness, God welcomes us. People might not take the time to know our struggle, and some people, once they know, might not care. Sometimes, as we see in this story, the powerful try to silence those in need.

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Defender of the Poor

15th Sunday after Pentecost: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23

This lectionary selection pulls these three proverb “couplets” that all relate to how we treat the poor. In fact, all of the lectionary readings for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost include the theme of caring for the poor or standing up for the oppressed. This is one of my favorite themes found in the Bible. While following God doesn’t align with any political party, Scripture is clear that God cares about the poor and the oppressed. How we care for the poor in our context may vary, but we should care. We should take the time to consider how to use whatever power we have to help those with less power. Continue reading

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