Daily Retreat 02/16/06

2006 Feb 16 Thu: Ordinary Weekday

Jas 2: 1-9/ Ps 33(34): 2-3. 4-5. 6-7/ Mk 8: 27-33

From today’s readings: "Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that He promised to those who love Him?... The Lord hears the cry of the poor.... He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days."

Preferential Treatment

When we focus on minor details, it’s tempting to dismiss scripture as archaic and inapplicable to our modern situations. But when we look at the big picture and main points, it’s almost uncanny how pertinent and timely are the insights of the Word of God.

St. James, echoing the teachings of Christ, insisted on the equal dignity of all people, rich or poor. The image of a rich man with gaudy golden rings might seem ridiculously ostentatious for modern taste (and therefore not overly impressive), but of course the essential point is not how he is dressed, but how he is treated because of his wealth. And today, as well as the time St. James wrote, we continue to give rich people preferential treatment.

But our Christian faith calls us instead to give preferential treatment to the poor, recognizing in them our Lord Jesus, who said, "Whatsoever you do to the least of My brothers, that you do unto Me!"