WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

St Teresa of Calcutta declared, “There is hunger for ordinary bread, and there is hunger for love, for kindness, for thoughtfulness, and this is the great poverty that makes people suffer so much.” Pope Francis consistently challenged the world to look beyond the attention grabbers, the powerful and the oligarchs and to see instead the people at the margins of society. He set a wonderful example through, amongst other things, supporting the homeless people and rough sleepers of Rome – providing showers, food and dignity even within the structures of St Peter’s. At the same time, he repeatedly told us to be watchful for poverty that is not so immediately obvious: that of loneliness and psychological neglect. Prophets of doom tell us that the world as we know it is collapsing around us. Ten out of twelve news items in a recent television programme gave updates on war, crime, climate change and an earthquake. Where was the hope? Where was the good news? As people of faith, we know that God is at the centre of everything. With Jesus in our hearts, we are inspired to make a difference to those who

are living in poverty of whatever cause. We are rich, truly rich. (The Living Word)