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Making a place at the table of life for all

By Leela Ramdeen

Chair, Catholic Commission for Social Justice/Archdiocesan Ministry for Migrants and Refugees

Today, Sunday November 14, is the fifth World Day of the Poor, celebrated in the Catholic Church globally. On November 20, 2016, near the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter, entitled Misericordia et misera, ‘Mercy with Misery’.

In it, he announced a new ‘World Day of the Poor’, which, he said, is to be celebrated each year on the Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time.

In his Apostolic Letter, he said: “This would be the worthiest way to prepare for the celebration of the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, who identified with the little ones and the poor and who will judge us on our works of mercy (cf Mt 25:31–46).  It would be a day to help communities and each of the baptised to reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel and that, as long as Lazarus lies at the door of our homes (cf Lk 16:19–21), there can be no justice or social peace.”

The Holy Father calls us to practise the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as “proof of mercy’s immense positive influence as a social value. Mercy impels us to roll up our sleeves and set about restoring dignity to millions of people; they are our brothers and sisters who, with us, are called to build a ‘city which is reliable’” (18).

Pope Francis’ Message for the fifth World Day of the Poor is: The poor you will always have with you (Mk 14:7). This is taken from Jesus’ words at the anointing in Bethany. This, he says “is a summons never to lose sight of every opportunity to do good.”

He says people must never become indifferent knowing there will always be poverty in the world and among their neighbours. Jesus always sides with the poor and He “shares their lot”.

In his message, he challenges the faithful to seek out and help the poor wherever they are: “We cannot wait for the poor to knock on our door; we need urgently to reach them in their homes, in hospitals and nursing homes, on the streets and in the dark corners where they sometimes hide, in shelters and reception centres. It is important to understand how they feel, what they are experiencing and what their hearts desire…

“Serving the poor effectively moves us into action and makes it possible to find the most suitable ways of raising and promoting this part of humanity that all too often is anonymous and voiceless, but which has imprinted on it the face of the Saviour who asks for our help.”

He also stresses that the poor have much to teach us. They help us to look into the “true face” of God. They retain the dignity of God’s children that can’t be taken away. He calls for a global approach to poverty.

“If the poor are marginalised, as if they were to blame for their condition, then the very concept of democracy is jeopardised and every social policy will prove bankrupt.  He said, “governments and world institutions need to take up with a farsighted social model capable of countering the new forms of poverty that are now sweeping the world and will decisively affect coming decades.”

Let’s never forget that we are also called to ask, “Why are the poor, poor?” and address the root causes of poverty. And let’s strive to make a place at the table of life for all God’s children.

Photo by Cleyder Duque from Pexels