DAY 8 – Sa Nagkukubling Liwanag (First Part)

"Jesus looked up... and saw a poor widow. And He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them." Lk. 1:1-3

As we are about to end our 9-day reflection,
Allow me talk with you today regarding poverty.
What it is and its types.

I believe poverty, like charity (love) cannot be fully define or describe.
If you’ve heard a lot of times that ‘Love is a mystery’ allow me to tell you now, that also, ‘Poverty is a mystery.’

Let me give you an overview of what I mean:
“The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.” Prov. 22:2 (And Diyos ba ang may likha ng kahirapan? Gusto ba N’yang maghirap ang tao? Maaari bang mahirap ka pero mayaman din?)

“I will do this that they may lack bread and water, and look at one another in dismay, and rot away because of their punishment.” Ez. 4:17
(Ang kahirapan ba ay isang parusa? Kapag naghihirap ka ba ibig sabihin may nagawa kang kasalanan?)

For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. Mk. 14:7 (Kung mananatili naman pala sa atin ang mahihirap, para saan pa ang ating mga pagsisikap na tulungan sila?)

“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Lk. 6:21 (Maunawaan kaya ito ng mga nawalan ng kabuhayan at mahal sa buhay dahil sa bagyong Yolanda at Ruby?)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 2Cor. 8:9 (Ano kaya ang ibig sabihin nito?)

With all these questions about poverty, indeed, poverty cannot be easily defined. However, looking at these verses above and the rest, the Bible described poverty as a ‘period’ or a ‘moment’ of deficiency or of need.

But wait, it’s not all. (Most dictionaries and authors describe poverty as mentioned above, but not God) To complete. Biblical poverty is a ‘recognized’ moment of deficiency or of need that should be ‘needed’, ‘wanted’ and 'will' be filled.

‘RECOGNIZE’ because someone should accept it, the poor person should admit it in humility.
‘NEEDED’ because there should be someone responding to it. Someone should try to fill the lack or emptiness.
‘WANTED’ because the poor person should be willing to fill his/her emptiness and willing to be helped.
'WILL' because in due time poverty will end. It will 'surely' end.

So, in a larger perspective, biblical poverty is not experienced in isolation. But and should be resolve in transition (step by step) and in communion.
In other words, poverty is never separated from charity.
All the more, it highlights it.

Again, poverty is never separated from charity,
From charity that is best expressed in generosity.

Let us pray. Generous Father, I may not always understand why you allow poverty, sickness, hurts and ignorance to come my way. But I know you will fill me up. That you will help me and send people to fill me up. Yes, in your own time, always in your best time. In Jesus name. Amen.