The Lord Hears The Cry of The Poor

Throughout the Bible, rich men are often portrayed as evil ones who take advantage of the poor. Other stories commend those who have little yet share it with others. Does that mean God favors the poor over everyone else? Will those of us who have some material comfort in this life be ignored by God?

God loves each and every one of us. Yet those who have nothing often seek God the most, calling out to Him in their hours of need. And He listens to them. To put that in perspective, think of parents with multiple children. They love all their children. But when one is in danger or has an emergency, the parents give their attention to that child first. It doesn’t mean they love their other children less. At other times, the other children will be the ones in need and will be the priority for the parents. In much the same way, God hears the cry of the poor - those who need His attention more at this particular moment.

Poor doesn’t always mean lacking money or basic necessities. People can be poor in spirit. Look at the tax collector in today’s gospel. We assume he was a rich man who probably cheated others to gain more wealth. Regardless of his circumstance, the tax collector humbles himself before God and acknowledges his sinfulness. God hears the depth of his anguish much more clearly than the pompous prayer of the Pharisee. The tax collector reveals his need for God in his life.