Being With the Poor: Breaking Free to Love
"When we see the culture as it really is, with its empty, illusory promises of success and power; when we plant ourselves into the common life of a small group of people intent on listening to Jesus and following wherever he leads; when we rest - pulling away from the importnat activities of our days in order to just hang out with the One who loves us beyond all measure; when we begin to live this way, we will find our hearts flowering, opening to the needs of the afflicted, the oppressed, the poor. Those whom we quietly despised for their lack of education, their lack of willpower, their lack of beingmore like us, we will begin to love - really love - in the way that Christ loves each of us despite our despicable and continual human failures.
This change of attitude won't be the result of anything we have done; in fact, we won't understand rationally how it is possible. It will seem as though it "just happened" inexplicably, mysteriously. We will have become such a community of love - will will so completely be the body of Christ - that will we will find ourselves drawn irresistibly to the Christ within the hungry, thirsty, naked, and imprisoned one whom He loves. (See Matthew 25) Our fear and distrust will be erased by the reality of coming to know and love specific individuals who are poor. They will no longer be "those" people, but "our" people. We first will hear God say it: "My people...," and then we will hear ourselves say it.
There is a oneness in the human family that we deny at our peril. Being with the suffering poor is no optional. Jesus himself said that whatever we do or fail to do for the hungry or sick or imprisoned or destitute, we do or fail to do for him. Why would Christ use such a measurement? Perhaps because being with those who completely and utterly have to physical means of support causes us to ask life-altering questions: Am I taking God seriously? What difference does God make for a world with such need? What does God wish I would be about for my one brief life? If I really believe that "God so loved the world" that Jesus was willing to die for it, am I willing to risk my pride, my self-esteem, my security, my comfort in order to immerse myself completely in loving service to this world? Do I care enough about the things that matter the most to God?"
Radical Newness: The Essence of Being Church by N. Gordon Cosby with Kayla McClurg
WEEK 1
Begin reading Becoming Human by Jean Vanier
Read Matthew 25:31-46 and Luke 14:7-24. Spend some time each day reflecting on these passages, letting the world speak to your heart. Towards the end of the week, choose one of the passages, whichever speaks to you more deeply, and put in writing to share with your small group your responses to these questions:
- What is your gut reaction to the passage? Is it good news to you or not?
- What does it have to do with your life now? Describe one experience you have had with someone who is economically poor.
Begin each day by asking God to help you break free from all that holds you from being present with, and loving those who are economically poor. Spend 15 - 20 minutes of silence simply listening to God's still, small voice. End the day with a few moments of reflection - did you connect in any way with someone who would fit in those Jesus talked about in the scriptures?
WEEK 2
Continue reading Becoming Human
Read and reflect on the Good Samaritan story in Luke 10:25-37, and Chapter 6 in Finding Our Way Home, by K. Killian Noe. Anthony De Mello writes that the spiritual life is about awareness, awareness, awareness. In order to deepen our love and connectedness with those who are marginalized, we must give time to seeing who those are in our own lives who are on the "outside", who are the stranger - then hold up to God our need for healing of all that keps us separated. Work with these questions and put your responses (no more than 2 pages or so) in writing to share with your small group:
Make your own "purity map" being as honest as possible. Who is at the center? The spirit of this exercise is to give time for awareness of who is part of your "inside" group, those with whom you feel comfortable, those whose values/understandings match yours, those you would normally have over to your home, then move out of that inner group to the outer groups. Write this all down, (perhaps like "bulls eye circles") trusting that awareness of separateness can lead to connectedness. Who is "in" and who is "out" on your map? Write anything you see in a new way, or deeper way, as you look at your map. What are the systems (church, family, government, educational, economic, etc.) that most deeply influence your map? Are there any systems that tell you "don't risk your privilege or insider status"? Explain.
Begin each day by asking God to help you see with new eyes those whom you consider "them" or "other". Spend 15 - 20 minutes every day simply listening to God's still, small voice. End the day with a few moments of reflection - did you connect in any way with someone who would be an "outside" on your map?
WEEK 3
Continue reading Becoming Human
Read and reflect on the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31 and the handout How Wealth Divides the World (UN Report) and chapters 11 and 12 in Where Your Treasure Is by Ed Bauman.
What is your gut reaction to the scripture passage? Do we need to be economically poor in order to be in solidarity with the poor? If you had a conversation with Jesus and asked him what you would need to let go of in order to enter into deeper relationship with the poor, what would he say? What are the tangible or intangible things? What is a painful experience you have had related to money and the poor? What is a life-giving experience you have had related to money and the poor? Put your thoughts in writing, no more than 2 or 3 pages, and share with your small group.
Begin each day by asking God to help you see in what ways money or other attachments may make it harder for you to be in real relationshipos with those who are economically poor. Spend 15-20 minutes a day simply listening to God's still, small voice. End each day reflecting for a moment - how did your spending today impact the economically poor?
WEEK 4
Finish reading Becoming Human. In chapter 2, Vanier writes about the many kinds of fear that may make it hard for us to connect deeply with the poor. Which of his expressions of fear strike a chord with you? Write, as specifically as possible, how this has played out for you in your relationships or lack of relationshiops with the economically poor, the marginalized, the outsider. If you sense another area of fear you have, which is not mentioned in the book, write about that. Throughout the scripture, Jesus constantly reminds us, "Do not be afraid." Read the 23rd Psalm daily. Spend some time every day praying for a new openness and fuller awareness of that which you fear, related to your connectedness with the poor. Does anything new come to light?
Connect at least one time with an individual who is economically poor, be present with the intention of seeing him or her as God does, and allow yourself to be seen by the other person as God sees you.
Write (2 pages) your responses to the questions and reflection, and bring your paper to the group meeting for our sharing time.
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