Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Proper 15 C - Psalm 82


God doesn't care about the poor because they are poor. God cares about the poor because they are people and God loves people. The trouble is people do show partiality, fawning over the powerful while neglecting those with the greatest need, i.e. the weak and the orphan; the lowly and the destitute. But in God’s design for human community those who wield the greatest power have the greatest responsibility to act justly in the same way that “to whom much is given much is required.” (Luke 12:48) When Jesus’ half-brother James (influenced no doubt by his step-brother) wrote about works produced by faith he put it in the context of providing for the poor. “If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?” (James 2:15,16) The wishing the other well is equal to the providing for basic needs. That is one of the reasons I make eggs to order for our room in the inn guests. When it comes down to it having the choice of how you like your eggs is of equal, if not more, value than the egg itself. And truth to be told I am always blessed by my friends who tell me how they like their eggs. It’s all about relationship. 

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