DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE POOR

XXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: James 2:1-5

The poor Lazarus

James makes it clear: the faith in Jesus Christ does not go together with discrimination. In the Church, we cannot favour the rich and despise the poor. In fact, according to James, the poor are better off than the rich, not because they are poor, but because God is on their side: 

“it was those who are poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.” (James 2:5).

James warns us against keeping special places for the rich in church, while the poor are left at the door, standing.

We must remember that Jesus showed always special preference for the poor and the sinners. And he warned his disciples (us) that it is very difficult, although not impossible (due to God’s grace), for a rich to enter the Kingdom of God (Mt 19:23-24). Riches are a temptation that easily can separate us from God and from our neighbours. Once our hearts lean to wealth and find refuge in it, then they are a curse, instead of a blessing.

Our parishes and our Christian communities cannot ignore the poor and the suffering without loosing their Christian identity. Seeing the poor, we cannot pass by, but we must make ourselves his compassionate neighbour. The poor must feel at home in our churches, because they are in the Father’s house, sharing his love with all the brothers and sisters.