Poverty

In the picture my grandson Forrest is standing in front of a sign in Kingston Jamaica stating that a Burger King selection costs $285 Jamaican. Inflation in Jamaica is so dramatic that purchasing almost anything in the Jamaican economy is almost impossible for Jamaicans. People live in poverty because the economy is so messed up and unemployment is over 65%. Jamaica is not even the poorest country in our part of the world and yet we saw real poverty, people who were in danger of death because of their poverty. People who have been among the poor often comment how joyful they are in the midst of their poverty.

I also remember when Mother Theresa came to the United States. She was asked what she thought about America, and her response was, "I've never seen such poor people." Can you imagine Mother Theresa whose ministry is picking up the dead and dying from the gutters of Calcutta thinking that we are among the poorest of people.

In Luke's gospel he writes blessed are the poor, while in Matthew's gospel he writes blessed are the poor in spirit. It's interesting that among the poor in goods and services joy is abundant, while where there is great wealth of possessions you find abundant discontent. In the United States you find fear and self protection except among the poor where you find great sharing.

Which is the greater poverty anyway?