POOR
POOR
BY
(Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6) LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY
HIS DIET
WAS LOCUSTS
AND WILD HONEY
MANY EUROPEANS
TURN THEIR NOSE UP
AT THE LOCUSTS
BUT IN HIS DAY
AND CULTURE
LOCUST AND HONEY
WERE A MEAL FOR THE POOR
THE VERY POOR
WHO COULD SCAVENGE FOR IT
IN THE WILDERNESS
IT WAS THE VERY POOR
AND POOR
THAT JOHN PREACHED TO
THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION
THE PEASANTS
ROUGH TREATED HUMANS
CREATE
A ROUGH RELIGION
SO JOHN SPOKE TO THEM ROUGHLY
BUT IN HIS HEART
HE WAS LIKE A PARENT DISCIPLINING HIS CHILD
WHAT MUST WE DO THEY CRIED
SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE
CLOTHING
FOOD
BE HONEST IN YOUR WORK
BE HONORABLE
IN YOUR DEALING WITH OTHERS
BE A CHILD OF ABRAHAM
REMEMBER
BEING A CHILD OF ABRAHAM
GAINS YOU NOTHING
IF YOUR ACTIONS ARE UNWORTHY
OF BEING ABRAHAM’S CHILD
JOHN WASN’T A DIPLOMAT
HE WAS BEHEADED
NEITHER WAS JESUS
HE WAS CRUCIFIED
BUT BEFORE THAT
JESUS
WITH A DAWNING SENSE OF VOCATION
JOINED JOHN’S
RENEWAL MOVEMENT
HE WAS BAPTIZED
GOING DOWN INTO THE WATER
LIKE THE RED SEA
COMING UP A MEMBER
DEDICATED TO CHANGE
FROM THE SLAVERY OF THE OLD
TO THE FREEDOM OF THE NEW
BY THE TIME JOHN DIED
JESUS HAD BRANCHED OUT ON HIS OWN
JOHN WAS A GOOD FRONTMAN
BUT JESUS THOUGHT
HE PREACHED
AN ANGRY GOD
HIS CONCEPT WAS DIFFERENT
HE BELIEVED GOD LOVED HIS CREATION
WANTED WHAT WAS BEST FOR HIS CREATION
WHO WOULD
THOUGH HE DIDN’T KNOW IT AT THE TIME
DIE FOR HIS CREATION
JESUS WAS A PEASANT
HIS FATHER WAS A TEKTON
A DAY LABORER
HE SHARED WITH OTHER PEASANTS
A NATURAL DISTASTE
FOR CHURCH
AND STATE
BOTH IN HIS MIND
WANTED TO KEEP HIM DOWN
AND TAKE HIS MONEY
HE SAID TO HIS FELLOW PEASANTS
YOU HAVE DIGNITY
WHICH CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY
YOU HAVE BEEN CREATED BY GOD IN HIS IMAGE
WALK PROUDLY
HOLD UP YOUR HEAD
YOU ARE
EACH OF YOU
GOD’S FAVORITE
WHICH WAS WHY
WHEN HE ENTERED THE TEMPLE
WHEN HE SAW THE GOUGING OF THE POOR
HE BECAME INCENSED
AND IN A HOLY RAGE
CHASED THEM FROM THE TEMPLE
SO DOING
HE HAD SIGNED HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT
HE HAD UPSET
HOWEVER BRIEFLY
THE MONEY MACHINE
FOR THAT
HE MUST DIE
THEY KILLED HIM
THEY PLANTED HIM
THEY WALKED AWAY DUSTING THEIR HANDS
THAT’S THE END OF HIM THEY THOUGHT
BUT HIS TEACHING
BURST FROM THE TOMB
LIKE A SWARM OF LOCUSTS
AND THEY SANG AS THEY FLEW
TASTE AND SEE
THE SWEETNESS OF GOD
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PISTIS
PISTIS
Blessed is the man who has realized his own utter helplessness.
And who has put his whole trust in God.
TO THE HEBREW THERE WERE FOUR STAGES OF POOR
THE FIRST STAGE WAS SIMPLY POOR
HAVING NO RESOURCES
THE SECOND
HAVING NO POWER
PRESTIGE
THE THIRD
NO POWER MEANT
NO INFLUENCE
DOWNTRODDEN
PUSHED ASIDE
THE FOURTH
HAVING NOTHING
PUTS HIS TRUST IN GOD
SO CHRIST COULD CALL OUT
BLESSED ARE THE POOR
CHRIST DID NOT MEAN SLUMS
OR INGRAINED POVERTY
POVERTY IS NOT GOOD
IT’S THE CHRISTIAN’S TASK TO ERADICATE IT
WE PRAY DAILY
THY KINGDOM COME
THY WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
WE SAY AS CHRISTIANS
WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH
AS BETTER WORD
WOULD BE TRUST
PAUL SAID
ABRAHAM HAD FAITH IN GOD
AND WAS DEEMED RIGHTEOUS
BETTER SAID
WOULD BE
ABRAHAM TRUSTED GOD
AND WAS DEEMED RIGHTEOUS
A BETTER TRANSLATION
OF THE GREEK WORD
PISTIS
WHICH PAUL USED
LESS MECHANICAL
THAN
WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH
SUCH FAITH LEADS TO CHEAP GRACE
WHERE THE BELIEVING CHRISTIAN
WALKS BY THE POOR MAN
AND DOESN’T SEE HIM
FAITH WITHOUT GOOD WORKS FOLLOWING
IS DEAD
BETTER A LOAF OF BREAD TO THE POOR
THAN A PRAYER
WE SHOULD WEAR CHRIST
LIKE AN ITCHY COAT
ALWAYS REMINDING US
TO FOLLOW HIM
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OPINIONS
SLAVE MARRIAGES
SLAVE MARRIAGES
HAD NEITHER
LEGAL STANDING
NOR PROTECTION
FROM THE ABUSES
AND RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON THEM
BY SLAVE OWNERS.
SLAVE HUSBANDS AND WIVES,
WITHOUT LEGAL RECOURSE,
COULD BE SEPARATED
OR SOLD AT THEIR MASTER'S WILL.
COUPLES WHO RESIDED
ON DIFFERENT PLANTATIONS
WERE ALLOWED TO VISIT ONLY
WITH THE CONSENT OF THEIR OWNERS
.
SLAVES OFTEN MARRIED
WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF CLERGY,
AND AS HISTORIAN JOHN BLASSINGAME STATES,
"THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY
IN MOST CASES CONSISTED
OF THE SLAVES SIMPLY GETTING
THE MASTER'S PERMISSION
AND MOVING INTO A CABIN
IF WE TEACH A DOG
TO BITE
AND IT DOES,
WHO IS AT FAULT.
OFTEN THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY
CONSISTED OF MOVING IN TOGETHER.
COUPLES COULD BE SEPARATED
AT MASTER’S WILL
AND CHILDREN BORN TO THEM
BELONGED TO MASTER
AND COULD BE SOLD.
TO KEEP A SLAVE POOR
AND UNEDUCATED
AND THEN TO BLAME THEM
FOR BEING POOR AND UNEDUCATED
IS UNJUST
TO KEEP A FREEDMAN POOR
AND UNEDUCATED
AND THEN TO BLAME THEM
FOR BEING POOR AND UNEDUCATED
IS UNJUSTIFIABLE
THE AGREEING OF THE SOUTHERN CHURCHES
WITH SLAVERY
IS AKIN TO THE GERMAN CHURCHES
THAT EMBRACED NAZISM
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ESCHATOLOGY
THERE SEEMS TO BE TWO VIEWS OF ESCHATOLOGY
THE STUDY OF LAST THINGS
ONE CALLED APOCALYPTIC ESCHATOLOGY
CALLS FOR GOD TO ENTER HISTORY
AND STRAIGHTEN A WICKED WORLD
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN RAPTURE
AND OTHERS
WHO BELIEVE
GOD IS A BOOGIE MAN
ARE FANS OF THIS VIEW
IT CALLS FOR GOD TO DO THE WORK
ANOTHER VIEW
IS CALLED SAPIENTIAL ESCHATOLOGY
WHICH SAYS
THAT GOD HAS GIVEN MAN
THE SKILLS TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD
THOSE WHO WORK AT MAKING A BETTER WORLD
LIKE PEACEMAKERS
HEALERS
THOSE WHO TOUCH THE UNTOUCHABLES
THOSE WHO DO THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
ARE FANS OF THIS VIEW
IT CALLS FOR MAN NOT GOD
TO REDEEM THE WORLD
WITH HIS GOD GIVEN SKILLS
WHO BELIEVE GOD IS EXPRESSED
BY OUR DEEDS
A GOD WHO WISHES MAN WELL
I TEND TO HOPE AND BELIEVE IN THE LATTER
GOD TEACHES US TO PRAY
YOUR KINGDOM
YOUR WILL BE DONE
ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
HAS GOD
GIVEN US A FRUITLESS TASK
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…………………………………………………………………
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
I DON’T BELIEVE
THE HISTORICAL JESUS
SAID THESE WORDS
TO THE JEWISH PEASANT
TO WHICH HE WAS SPEAKING
THEY WOULD SIGNIFY
DEATH AND PUNISHMENT
HE WAS USED TO LABOR METAPHORS
PICK UP YOUR LOAD
PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT
IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE
FOR THE TIME
HE WAS TALKING TO A PEOPLE
WHO HAD BEEN HARDENED
IT WAS LIKE A SITUATION IN THE CAMPS
WHERE FATHER FOUGHT SON
OR SON FATHER
FOR A CRUST OF BREAD
AS ELIE WEISER SAID
THE BEST OF US DID NOT SURVIVE
BUT CHRIST WAS SAYING
IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING DO THE RIGHT THING
AS VICTOR FRANKEL
ANOTHER CAMP SURVIVOR SAID
I WOULD NOT LET THEM
DETERMINE HOW I THINK AND ACT
WHAT CHRIST WAS SAYING
PICK UP THE BURDEN
OF LIVING DECENTLY
AND FOLLOW ME
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.
DIATRIBE
DIATRIBE
I DID NOT WANT TO WRITE THIS DIATRIBE
BUT SOMETIMES THE STENCH OF SELFISHNESS
IS STULTIFYING
SUFFOCATING
SADDENING
A PERVADING SENSE
OF
I’VE GOT MINE
AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS
WITH IT
IS A SENSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
THAT GOD HAS BLESSED THEM
FOR BEING GOOD
HOW DOES THAT SQUARE WITH LEVITICUS
WHICH SAYS
WHEN YOU REAP THE HARVEST OF YOUR LAND
DO NOT REAP TO THE VERY EDGES OF YOUR FIELD
OR GATHER THE GLEANINGS OF YOUR HARVEST
LEAVE THEM FOR THE POOR AND THE ALIEN
I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD
WE ASK TO PUT COMMANDMENTS ON THE WALL
PRAYER IN SCHOOL
GOD IN OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
BUT WHERE IS THE LIVING ACCORDING TO THESE RULES
WHERE IS THE THINKING ACCORDING TO THESE RULES
WHERE IS THE ACTION
TO MATCH
OUR WORDS
THE LORD IS NOT CALLED
THE FATHER OF THE RICH
THE INTELLECTUALS
THE POWERFUL
HE IS CALLED
AND CALLS HIMSELF
FATHER OF THE POOR
WITH ALL OF US QUOTING FROM THE SAME BOOK
WHY ARE THE POOR
POOR
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
WHY ARE THE HUNGRY
HUNGRY
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
WHY ARE THE SICK
SICK
UNABLE TO AFFORD DECENT TREATMENT
WE GO TO CHURCH
BUT CHRIST IS THE HOMELESS MAN
OUT ON THE CURB
WE ARE LIKE THE RESIDENTS OF SODOM
WHO WOULD NOT TREAT THE STRANGER
IN THEIR MIDST
ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF HOSPITALITY
BUT THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS
DO WHAT IS JUST AND RIGHT
RESCUE FROM THE HAND OF HIS OPPRESSOR
THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN ROBBED
DO NO WRONG OR VIOLENCE TO THE ALIEN
THE FATHERLESS OR THE WIDOW
AND DO NOT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD IN THIS PLACE
WE SHOULD NOT
CLAIM
THE SYMBOLS OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
UNTIL WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM THEM
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.
ACT OF CONTRITION
ACT OF CONTRITION - CHURCH CLOSED IN POOR NEIGHBORHOOD
FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR
FOR BEING GHETTO TRAPPED BY BIRTH OR RACE OR AGE
OR FEAR OF COMPETITION
FOR WHICH WE ARE ILL PREPARED
FORGIVE US FOR OUR ANGER
FOR LASHING OUT AT INNUMERABLE GNATS OF IRRITATION
THE ACID OF OUR DAILY LIVES
FORGIVE US FOR BELIEVING YOUR WORDS
THAT THE POOR WOULD HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM
FORGIVE US FOR NOT MAKING MONEY
LIKE OTHER MISSIONS IN AFRICA INDIA LATIN AMERICA DO
FOR PENANCE TAKE OUR CHURCH
AND WITH THE GAIN
ERECT A MONUMENT TO PRIDE
IN A MORE PROFITABLE PLACE
FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR
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(Matthew 25: 35-40) GOD'S WORLD
I SOMETIMES WONDER
DO WE PRACTICE RELIGION
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
OR BECAUSE
IT MAKES US RESPECTABLE
WE BELIEVE WITH RELIGIOUS FERVOR
THAT WE SHOULDN’T HELP THE HOMELESS
ESPECIALLY THOSE SCARRED BY WAR
WHICH WAR
WE CHEERED THEM WHEN THEY WENT
OR HELP SINGLE PARENTS
BY DIVORCE
WAR
DEATH
THEY’RE NOT WORTHY
BECAUSE THEY ARE NEEDY
TAX THE POOR
EXCUSE THE WEALTHY
MAKE RETIREMENT A HORROR
NOT A PEACEFUL SUNSET
I AM REMINDED
OF AN INCIDENT
WHICH HAPPENED IN NEWFOUNDLAND
MY MOTHER’S BIRTHPLACE
THE FISHING WAS BAD
THE OWNERS OF THE FISHING FLEET
TO CUT THE WORKERS WAGES
THEIR REPLY WAS NO
DO YOU INCREASE THEIR WAGES
IN GOOD TIMES
OR CUT YOUR OWN WAGES
WITH THE WORKERS
ECHOES OF MODERN TIMES
WORKERS ASKED TO CUT WAGES
CEOS MAKE MILLIONS
IF WE PROTEST
WE’RE TOLD IT’S SOME KIND OF ISM
SOME KIND OF CLASS WARFARE
I DON’T THINK A HUNGRY MAN CARES
GOD CALLS HIMSELF
FATHER OF THE POOR
HE RECOGNIZES OUR TENDENCY
TO IMPOVERISH ALL BUT US
HE RECOGNIZES THIS TENDENCY OF OURS
WHEN HE SAYS
THE POOR ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU
IS SUCH A WORLD GOD’S PLAN
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PARABLES
WERE CARPENTERS
WHICH BRINGS TO MIND
A MIDDLE CLASS HOME
WITH A SHOP OUT FRONT
PERHAPS WITH A SIGN
THAT SAYS
JOSEPH AND SON
MAKER OF EASY YOKES
SOME SAY HE WAS NOT
I TEND TO AGREE
NOT OUT OF SOME SCHOLAR DISCOVERY
BUT LIFE EXPERIENCE
I SPENT MOST OF MY WORK LIFE
AS AN AIRCRAFT WORKER
WE SPOKE A JARGON
WHICH A NEW EMPLOYEE
FOUND DIFFICULT
BUT WE SPOKE WHAT WE KNEW
READING THE SCRIPTURES
WE FIND
PARABLE OF THE SOWER………FARMING
PARABLE OF THE TARES AND WHEAT……………FARMING
PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED………FARMING
PARABLE OF THE TENANTS…………….FARMING
PARABLE OF THE YEAST…………..DOMESTIC LIFE
PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN………….DOMESTIC LIFE
PARABLE OF THE TREASURE IN A FIELD……….POOR MAN’S DREAM
PARABLE OF THE PEARL……………….POOR MAN’S DREAM
PARABLE OF THE FISH AND THEIR SORTING……………..FISHING
PARABLE OF LAZARUS THE BEGGAR…………HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD WORKERS……………..INJUSTICE IN THE WORKPLACE
THESE AND OTHERS SEEM TO SAY FARM BOY
DAY LABORER
HANDYMAN
JACK OF ALL TRADES
THERE WERE MORE OF THEM IN PALESTINE
THAN MIDDLE CLASS
WHEN JOSEPH AND JESUS LIVED
JESUS CAME TO EXPERIENCE
FULL HUMANITY
THEN WHERE ELSE
WOULD HE GO
THAN TO THE VERY BOTTOM
WHERE SUN RARELY PEAKS THROUGH
AND LIFE IS A CONTINUOUS STRUGGLE
WHERE ONE COULD WORK ALL HIS LIFE
AND DIE POOR
WHETHER JESUS WAS A CARPENTER
OR NOT
DOESN’T MATTER
WHAT MATTERS
IS WHEN WE SEE
MIGRANT FARM WORKERS
OR
DAY LABORERS
OUTSIDE OF HOME DEPOT
OR LOWES
THEY TOO WERE SAVED BY CHRIST
CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE
BLESSED WITH DIGNITY
AND HONOR
YOU SHALL NOT HOLD A DAY LABORER’S WAGES
TILL THE NEXT DAY
YOU SHALL NOT HOLD BACK A MAN’S DIGNITY
TILL A BETTER TIME
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You give bread to a hungry person; but it would be better were no one hungry, and you could give it to no one. You clothe the naked person. Would that all were clothed and this necessity did not exist. (Tractate 1 John 8,8) Augustine of Hippo
WHEN PAUL CAME TO JERUSALEM
FOR WHAT WOULD BE KNOWN
AS THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM
OR
THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL
PAUL CAME TO PRESENT HIS CREDENTIALS
THE RIGHT TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES
WITHOUT INFLICTING JEWISH CUSTOMS ON THEM
PAUL PREACHED WELL
PAUL COULD PREACH THE SPOTS OFF A DALMATIAN
WHEN ALL THE INTELLECTUAL DUST HAD SETTLED
THE APOSTLES HAD ONLY ONE MANDATE TO GIVE HIM
REMEMBER THE POOR
REMEMBER THE POOR
RINGS LIKE A REFRAIN
DOWN THE CENTURIES
MOSTLY IGNORED
MOSTLY FEEDING THE HUNGRY
WITHOUT ASKING WHY
CHRIST KNOWING
THAT WE ARE OFTEN
UNAWARE OF THE WORLD AROUND US
SAID
YOU HAVE THE POOR ALWAYS WITH YOU
IT’S A REBUKE TO THE BLIND
AND THE DEAF AMONG US
IT’S A REBUKE TOO ALL OF US
WHO FEAST AT DIVES TABLE
AND NOT SEE LAZARUS
WHO WALK BY THE WOUNDED MAN
ON THE ROAD TO JERICHO
AFRAID TO BE CONTAMINATED
CHRIST WHISPERS
FEW HEAR
WHATSOEVER YOU DO….
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I WOULDN'T INVITE HIM TO MY PARTY
PAUL I MEAN
I WOULDN'T INVITE HIM TO MY PARTY
I'D GROW WEARY
OF ALWAYS IN YOUR FACE CONFRONTATION
OF ALWAYS BEING RIGHT
MY SELF
I LIKE HEROES
WITH WEAKNESS
I
CAN IDENTIFY WITH THEM
SO I WONDER
DID THE OTHER APOSTLES
WHEN ALL THE T’S WERE CROSSED
AND ALL THE I’S WERE DOTTED
DID THE HUMBLE FISHERMEN
SAY TO THE LEARNED SCHOLAR
REMEMBER THE POOR
IF WE FORGET THE POOR
THEN ALL OUR SCHOLARSHIP
IS NOTHING
BUT A RESOUNDING GONG
OR A CLANGING CYMBAL
REMEMBER THE POOR
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THE INNOCENT
WHETHER THE STORY
OF THE SLAUGHTER
OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS
IN BETHLEHEM
IS TRUE
OR MISGUIDED
HAGIOGRAPHY
IS UNSURE
IT’S CERTAIN
THAT HEROD COULD ORDER IT
BUT WE ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE
GOD’S STORY
GREATER
THAN IT IS
IT STARTS OFF BEING GREATER
WE HAVE NO NEED TO AUGMENT IT
BUT THE PAIN
THE STORY
REPRESENTS
IS TRUE
WHETHER
IT’S INFANTICIDE
DEATH BY SICKNESS
OR ACCIDENT
OR KILLED BY WAR
RACHAEL CRIES FOR HER YOUNG
AND WILL NOT BE COMFORTED
SO MANY PEOPLE
WE HAVE KILLED IN GOD’S NAME
SO MANY BY HUNGER
POVERTY
CLIMATE
SO MANY BY THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY WERE BETTER
GOOD TIMES WOULD HAPPEN
THAT GOD SMILES ON THE RICH
BUT NOT THE POOR
AND THAT BEING POOR
REFLECTS
THE MORALITY
OF THE POOR
I DO NOT THINK
THAT GOD CAME
WITH SHEPHERDS
WISE MEN
ANGELS
IN THE SKY
THAT THERE WAS NO STABLE
OR FILLED UP INN
BUT WITH RELATIVES
AND THERE
LIKE A RECURRING REFRAIN
A CHILD IS BORN
WRAPPED IN BIRTHING CLOTHES
NURSING AT HIS MOTHER’S BREAST
GOD IS BORN
TO BE ONE WITH US
WE DO NOT NEED TO GLORIFY IT MORE
BUT TO REMEMBER RACHAEL’S LAMENT
AND GOD WEEPING WITH HER
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Labels: BOOK
posted by Unknown @ 8:10 PM
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