Good ol' Luke.
I suspect a twinkle in his eye many a time as he wrote the gospel, tweaking the noses of the know-it-alls, and catching the proud (and who isn't?) off guard.
Today's lection, the rich man (Oh Lordy, listen to the trumpets and watch the security detail in their black SUVs) and, oh wait a minute, does the rich man have a name?
And Lazarus, a stinking little man full of sores and sorrow, groveling on the ground for a few of the rich man's crumbs ... friendless, a companion of raggedy street dogs ...
But, wait, he has a name, a real name, and later in the story, this sad mess of sores gets to sit on the lap of Abraham, while the rich man, a critter without a name, a self-serving bag of pride, goes without a name, and he's hot and he thirsty, and still expects Lazarus to come a-running to wait upon him.
He's not worth naming; his worth is in himself, his possessions and his power. He has what he wants, and so he's lost his name. Like all the rich, so full of themselves, a dime a dozen as God sees it.
But it's Lazarus, the man with nothing, who smells to high heaven with sores and disease, likely condemned by the rich man for being lazy, or stupid, why, he has a name.
Precious in the sight of the LORD.
A name.
I think Luke was chuckling to himself when he wrote the story, recalling how Jesus so often tweaked the noses of the rich and the powerful.
Recalling the moment, perhaps, as Luke witnessed it, or more likely, as Luke heard it from others, that Jesus, too, had a twinkle in his eye, a wicked sense of humor, as he made it clear to those who worked so hard to make a name for themselves, that in God's realm, they have no name at all; they've traded it away for goods.
And the stinking man, licked by the dogs, beneath the table of the rich, well, pay attention folks, because he has a name!
Showing posts with label poverty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poverty. Show all posts
Monday, November 19, 2018
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
A Rat Problem
The GOP talks about the poor:
As if they were a rat problem.
A scourge upon the estate.
Something to spoil the view.
The GOP cannot see people, but only problems.
Problems to be solved, with eradication.
Cruelty.
Death.
The poor are immoral, they say.
The poor are lazy and dirty, they say.
The poor are poor for their own fault, they say.
They say a lot of things.
And none of it is right.
They lie through their pearl-whitened teeth.
Admiring their prowess in a pitiful mirror.
Plastic surgery for the women and viagra for the men.
Slapping one another on the back.
Or grabbing one another in the nether parts.
Laughing all the way to the bank.
Grateful that so many rubes believe their lies.
The poor be damned.
Though we know the truth.
The poor are poor because of theft.
Wage theft and health theft.
Life taken away and hoarded by the few.
Because the few are really afraid.
Afraid of not having enough.
The death of the soul; the real scourge on the land.
The poor be damned.
Take away what little dignity they have.
Strip them bear in the public square.
Shame them all the more.
Why must it be this way?
What deformity of their DNA would prompt such lies?
Wealth has distorted their vision.
And for the rubes, the dreams of wealth kills the spirit.
The GOP talks about the poor:
As if they were a rat problem.
As if they were a rat problem.
A scourge upon the estate.
Something to spoil the view.
The GOP cannot see people, but only problems.
Problems to be solved, with eradication.
Cruelty.
Death.
The poor are immoral, they say.
The poor are lazy and dirty, they say.
The poor are poor for their own fault, they say.
They say a lot of things.
And none of it is right.
They lie through their pearl-whitened teeth.
Admiring their prowess in a pitiful mirror.
Plastic surgery for the women and viagra for the men.
Slapping one another on the back.
Or grabbing one another in the nether parts.
Laughing all the way to the bank.
Grateful that so many rubes believe their lies.
The poor be damned.
Though we know the truth.
The poor are poor because of theft.
Wage theft and health theft.
Life taken away and hoarded by the few.
Because the few are really afraid.
Afraid of not having enough.
The death of the soul; the real scourge on the land.
The poor be damned.
Take away what little dignity they have.
Strip them bear in the public square.
Shame them all the more.
Why must it be this way?
What deformity of their DNA would prompt such lies?
Wealth has distorted their vision.
And for the rubes, the dreams of wealth kills the spirit.
The GOP talks about the poor:
As if they were a rat problem.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Discrepancy
Family leave? Hardly.
Day care at work? Maybe.
Health care? Still uneven.
Child care? Expensive.
Stay home with a sick child?
Lose pay?
Lose job?
What a choice!
Send a sick child to school.
Worsen the condition?
Infect other children?
What a choice!
How does a family do it?
If they're not rich ...
How does anyone do it?
Without a lot of help.
Yet, some deny job protections.
And sex education.
Some deny the value of a woman’s choice ... and say that every pregnant woman has to give birth, even still birth, if that’s the deal.
And some just say No!
To universal health care.
To family social supports, if these supports come from Uncle Sam ... especially if they’re from the Uncle Sam ... “we can’t have no socialism in this here country, because we believe in the law of claw, and the survival of the fittest ... because Jesus said that somewhere, at least that’s what the preacher said, and I’ve got my gun to defend m’self and a bullet with your name on it.”
"If you want help, go to church."
They say.
But most churches can't help.
Beyond a meal or two.
Maybe a babysitter a time or two.
Maybe a dime a time or two.
Certainly a prayer a time or two or three or more ... and the last time a prayer fed a hungry family or provided child care, I don’t remember ... but the one praying felt mighty good about it and gave the single mom a tract on salvation and the coming judgment of God.
Some say, again and again:
"Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps."
And then cut off the bootstraps.
And then take away the boot.
"Because some folks are just not deserving."
They say.
A discrepancy, I’d say!
Day care at work? Maybe.
Health care? Still uneven.
Child care? Expensive.
Stay home with a sick child?
Lose pay?
Lose job?
What a choice!
Send a sick child to school.
Worsen the condition?
Infect other children?
What a choice!
How does a family do it?
If they're not rich ...
How does anyone do it?
Without a lot of help.
Yet, some deny job protections.
And sex education.
Some deny the value of a woman’s choice ... and say that every pregnant woman has to give birth, even still birth, if that’s the deal.
And some just say No!
To universal health care.
To family social supports, if these supports come from Uncle Sam ... especially if they’re from the Uncle Sam ... “we can’t have no socialism in this here country, because we believe in the law of claw, and the survival of the fittest ... because Jesus said that somewhere, at least that’s what the preacher said, and I’ve got my gun to defend m’self and a bullet with your name on it.”
"If you want help, go to church."
They say.
But most churches can't help.
Beyond a meal or two.
Maybe a babysitter a time or two.
Maybe a dime a time or two.
Certainly a prayer a time or two or three or more ... and the last time a prayer fed a hungry family or provided child care, I don’t remember ... but the one praying felt mighty good about it and gave the single mom a tract on salvation and the coming judgment of God.
Some say, again and again:
"Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps."
And then cut off the bootstraps.
And then take away the boot.
"Because some folks are just not deserving."
They say.
A discrepancy, I’d say!
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Poverty and Wealth Are Not Virtues
Poverty isn't virtue ... it's just poverty.
Nor is wealth a virtue ... it's just wealth.
Both replicate one another.
Both are very much by chance ... though these days,
The wealthy like to believe it's by their own hand.
And, hence, poverty's a fault,
A failing.
Of the poor.
Strange.
That we've made wealth a virtue.
Poverty a vice.
Poor choices and a lack of drive.
So, take away from the poor.
All the more.
And reward the wealthy.
All the more.
Strange.
For the disappearance of reality from all of this.
The failure of the wealthy to appreciate the
Chanciness of their position.
And the refusal to look with a kindly eye
On the poor.
Slandering the poor.
While congratulating themselves.
As if wealth were a virtue.
To be rewarded.
And poverty a vice.
To be punished.
Nor is wealth a virtue ... it's just wealth.
Both replicate one another.
Both are very much by chance ... though these days,
The wealthy like to believe it's by their own hand.
And, hence, poverty's a fault,
A failing.
Of the poor.
Strange.
That we've made wealth a virtue.
Poverty a vice.
Poor choices and a lack of drive.
So, take away from the poor.
All the more.
And reward the wealthy.
All the more.
Strange.
For the disappearance of reality from all of this.
The failure of the wealthy to appreciate the
Chanciness of their position.
And the refusal to look with a kindly eye
On the poor.
Slandering the poor.
While congratulating themselves.
As if wealth were a virtue.
To be rewarded.
And poverty a vice.
To be punished.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Do Americans Know How to Face Death?
Do Americans know how to face death?
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure I know how.
It's unsettling to think about it.
So, we come up with polite euphemisms.
Put a happy face on it.
"What, me worry?"
When someone dies, we're likely
To blame them.
Lack of exercise, poor diet.
Or too much stress.
"If only they had ..."
Judgment ... so much judgment in those
few words.
When someone loses a loved one.
We grant them grief for a few weeks.
And then they better get on with it.
We're surprised, maybe miffed.
When six months later.
Tears and depression arise.
Maybe even in ourselves.
Death, I don't like it.
But I have no choice.
Perhaps faith offers something.
But even Jesus dreaded the prospect of death.
No cakewalk for him.
Nor for us.
And so it goes.
We can't run away.
Nor hedge our bets.
The mad accumulation of goods
Is a hedge.
Against death.
And so are harsh words
Toward the poor.
Who can't accumulate.
"What's the matter with them?"
Do they remind us of something?
We'd rather not know?
So we worship the Great God MBA.
And its Wall Street Minions.
Little boys and girls in expensive suits and fast cars.
Drinking expensive liquor.
Joy-riding in the fast lane.
Escaping death.
Running from it.
Full tilt.
All the way.
No tomorrow, is there?
But sooner or later.
The last tomorrow comes.
And then what?
Death holds a few keys in its wearied hand:
Courage.
Humility.
Kindness.
As for accumulation?
How about piling up hordes of mercy?
Or justice?
A little charity now and then.
But more than charity;
A whole lot of effort to transform
The mechanisms of society.
To face life.
That's what it's all about.
To see it for what it is.
Opportunity, but limited.
With death hanging around.
And maybe that's okay.
Can't do much about it anyhow.
Except thank it for the reminder.
That life is precious.
"So, get with it," says death.
"I'm here, waiting for you."
So we learn to face life.
In the gray light of death.
To live, maybe even well.
Some of the time.
Maybe much of the time.
Because there isn't that much time.
There really isn't.
I'm not sure.
I'm not sure I know how.
It's unsettling to think about it.
So, we come up with polite euphemisms.
Put a happy face on it.
"What, me worry?"
When someone dies, we're likely
To blame them.
Lack of exercise, poor diet.
Or too much stress.
"If only they had ..."
Judgment ... so much judgment in those
few words.
When someone loses a loved one.
We grant them grief for a few weeks.
And then they better get on with it.
We're surprised, maybe miffed.
When six months later.
Tears and depression arise.
Maybe even in ourselves.
Death, I don't like it.
But I have no choice.
Perhaps faith offers something.
But even Jesus dreaded the prospect of death.
No cakewalk for him.
Nor for us.
And so it goes.
We can't run away.
Nor hedge our bets.
The mad accumulation of goods
Is a hedge.
Against death.
And so are harsh words
Toward the poor.
Who can't accumulate.
"What's the matter with them?"
Do they remind us of something?
We'd rather not know?
So we worship the Great God MBA.
And its Wall Street Minions.
Little boys and girls in expensive suits and fast cars.
Drinking expensive liquor.
Joy-riding in the fast lane.
Escaping death.
Running from it.
Full tilt.
All the way.
No tomorrow, is there?
But sooner or later.
The last tomorrow comes.
And then what?
Death holds a few keys in its wearied hand:
Courage.
Humility.
Kindness.
As for accumulation?
How about piling up hordes of mercy?
Or justice?
A little charity now and then.
But more than charity;
A whole lot of effort to transform
The mechanisms of society.
To face life.
That's what it's all about.
To see it for what it is.
Opportunity, but limited.
With death hanging around.
And maybe that's okay.
Can't do much about it anyhow.
Except thank it for the reminder.
That life is precious.
"So, get with it," says death.
"I'm here, waiting for you."
So we learn to face life.
In the gray light of death.
To live, maybe even well.
Some of the time.
Maybe much of the time.
Because there isn't that much time.
There really isn't.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
When Mary Anoints Jesus and Judas Complains.
When Mary anoints Jesus with Nard, the oil of death ...
Mary accepts the inevitable end of the affair - that Jesus is headed toward a very strange "glory" ...
Meanwhile, Judas expresses his "concern" for the poor - how much better to have converted the Nard into cash, cash for charity.
But the gospel nails Judas to his peculiar cross - he really doesn't care about the poor; he's just a thief, and enjoyed carrying the money bag and taking from it when he wanted.
Jesus says to him, "You will always have the poor, but you won't always have me."
First of all, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 15.11, which further encourages kindness and generosity - it has the feel of something more than just charity, but a substantive regard for those who are on the bottom side of an economy.
With that in mind, Jesus goes to the heart of the problem for Judas - he's incapable of a genuine act of devotion to God - he can't let go of anything that's his - and that's why he's incapable of kindness to the poor, even as he uses pious words in some kind of a lame effort to shame Mary for "irresponsible act of love" and puff himself a wee bit.
In other words, the man has no heart - he cannot see beyond his greed, his deceit - he lives in a world of scarcity and fear.
In that respect, who's the poorest person in the story?
Is it not Judas? Bereft of heart and soul, without love of God or neighbor, but only the love of his money?
What a tragic man he is, and what a glorious moment for Mary - who tells the tale, and speaks the truth in the Nard-anointing, the oil of death - who doesn't have to do a little dying now and then in order to live? Who doesn't need the oil of death, the scent of mortality, the reminder of time's inevitable denouement to complete the picture, and get the head and heart on straight? Who doesn't need to give, really give, and deny the allure of scarcity and fear, and trust the higher realities of God's faithfulness and the need to give away whatever one would hope to find.
Mary is the quintessential disciple here ... she knows the truth of Jesus, that his glory will be the cross (a very strange glory, indeed) and now is as good a time as any to see this. Break out the Nard - not in joyful celebration, but in thoughtful acceptance of truth.
While Judas can only cling to the money bag, Mary anoints Jesus, and in her moment of truth, reveals her grasp of the story and establishes what it means to be a human being!
(My thanks to Richard Rohr and his fine Lenten Book, "Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent).
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
The Gospel according to Jesus and Psalm 146
From this morning's (Jan. 21, 2014) Lectionary (PCUSA): Psalm 146
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
In a time when many a politician takes a shot at the poor and questions their integrity, and makes sport of them in their poverty, as lazy, willingly dependent, a drain on the economy, laggards and sluggards, takers not makers, it's helpful to read of God's social agenda, God's priorities and the way God looks favorably upon those who are scorned and held in contempt by those who "live in ease and are proud" (Psalm 123.4).
When Jesus begins his ministry by preaching in his hometown, he's handed the Isaiah scroll and reads similar words, words of Jubilee, reflected here in Psalm 146.
Initially, the hometown folks thought he was preaching for them, and they were cheered and proud of this local boy, but when Jesus closes the scroll and begins to preach, they quickly turn on him, and seek to kill him. Why? Because Jesus makes it clear to them that God's purpose is ever-so much larger in scope and includes the very people whom these folks despise.
Jesus escaped their clutches and goes on to preach and heal, to lay before us a gospel that truly is good news for all - a gospel that never grows old, is always fresh, always a challenge, sometimes irritating, but always gospel.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
In a time when many a politician takes a shot at the poor and questions their integrity, and makes sport of them in their poverty, as lazy, willingly dependent, a drain on the economy, laggards and sluggards, takers not makers, it's helpful to read of God's social agenda, God's priorities and the way God looks favorably upon those who are scorned and held in contempt by those who "live in ease and are proud" (Psalm 123.4).
When Jesus begins his ministry by preaching in his hometown, he's handed the Isaiah scroll and reads similar words, words of Jubilee, reflected here in Psalm 146.
Initially, the hometown folks thought he was preaching for them, and they were cheered and proud of this local boy, but when Jesus closes the scroll and begins to preach, they quickly turn on him, and seek to kill him. Why? Because Jesus makes it clear to them that God's purpose is ever-so much larger in scope and includes the very people whom these folks despise.
Jesus escaped their clutches and goes on to preach and heal, to lay before us a gospel that truly is good news for all - a gospel that never grows old, is always fresh, always a challenge, sometimes irritating, but always gospel.
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