Pope Francis’ Quotes on Poverty

Speaker: Fr. Ric R. Eguia

Year 2021, 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines

After 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, the country remains poor and the poor are marginalized.

The root cause of our poverty is not “over population” but “corruption in government.”

Pagnanakawsa Kaban ng Bayanang ugat ng ating

kahirapan.

“Poverty in the world is a scandal. In a world where there is so much wealth, so many resources to feed everyone, it is unfathomable that there are so many hungry children, that there are so many children without an education, so many poor people…

“…Poverty today is a cry. We all have to think if we can become a little poorer, all of us have to do this. How can I become a little poorer in order to be more like Jesus who was the poor Teacher?”

(To the Students of Jesuit Schools, June 7, 2013)

Examination of Conscience:

What emotions does the existence of poverty in the world stir up in your heart?

Ano ang iyong nararamdam sasobrang kahirapan na nakikita mo sa iyong kapaligiran?

The gravest sin is “indifference.”

Indifference is the absence of love, when one does not care at all.

So much poverty we see around us makes us numb and indifferent.

“In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Lord speaks of a man assaulted and left half dead at the side of the road. People pass by him and look at him. But they do not stop, they just continue on their journey, indifferent to him; it is none of their business… (Based on Luke 10:29-35)

“…How often do we turn the other way and pretend not to see? Only a Samaritan, a stranger, sees him, stops, lifts him up, takes him by the hand, and cares for him…. (To St. Francis of Assisi of the Good Providence of God Hospital, July 24, 2013)

Examination of Conscience:- Kailan mo naranasan na ikaw ay nalagay sa kagipitan at ikaw ay nangailangan ng tulong? Sino angtumulong sa iyo? - Kailan mo naranasan na tinulunganng isang tao na hindi mo kilala?- Sino ngayon ang iyong kapwa nanangangailangan? Paano ka tinatawag ng Diyos na tumugon?

“Only by becoming poor ourselves, by stripping away our complacency, will we be able to identify with the least of our brothers and sisters.”(Homily at Manila Cathedral, Jan 16, 2015)

Let us make it clear:

- We are not trying to glorify poverty, because material poverty, in itself, is evil.- It dehumanizes a man. It degrades man’s dignity. - Material poverty is the root of crimes in our society.

Material poverty is not the will of God for his people.

God did not create poverty.

God created a bountiful life for all, and he wants us to live in the fullness of life.

The world’s poverty is the result of man’s

selfishness and greed.

Because God loves the poor, he sent his Son to live with the poor.

Jesus Christ established his Church among the poor and for the poor, so it is a “Church of the Poor.”

To remain true to its mission, the Church should give preferential option for the poor.

“God has a special love for the poor, such that he himself became poor. The entire history of our redemption is marked by the presence of the poor…

“…Salvation came to us from the “yes” uttered by a poor maiden (Virgin Mary) from a small town on the fringes of a great empire…”

“…The Savior was born in a manger, in the midst of animals, like children of the poor families; he was presented at the Temple along with two turtledoves, the offering made by those who could not afford a lamb; he was raised in a home of ordinary workers and worked with his own hands to earn his bread.” (Evangelii Gaudium, #197)

“The poor is at the center of the Gospel; the poor is at the heart of the Gospel. If we take away the poor from the Gospel, then the whole message of Jesus Christ will be lost.” (Pope Francis at Manila Cathedral Mass, Jan 16, 2015)

Year 2015 Year of the Poor

Goal of the Year of the Poor

- To bring the joy of the Gospel to the poor.- To empower the poor by raising their human dignity based on God’s love for them.- To make the poor not just the receiver but the proclaimer of the Gospel.

Material poverty is not something that is good in itself.

Poverty becomes good only when it leads to holiness.

How can poverty leads to holiness?

Poverty leads to holiness only if it sets us free to say “yes” to the call of God.

Poverty leads to holiness only if it is embraced for the greater glory of God’s Kingdom.

The Lord Jesus said, “We cannot serve both God and money. We will love one and hate the other.”

The call to embrace poverty is a call to be free to follow the Lord.

“You can’t speak of poverty without having experienced the poor. You can’t speak of poverty in the abstract: that doesn’t exist.”(To the Students of Jesuit Schools, June 7, 2013)

The Call to the Priesthood is a Call to Poverty

(My Vocation Story)

“To love God and neighbor is not something abstract, but profoundly concrete. It means seeing in every person the face of the Lord to be served, and to serve him completely.” (To the Homeless Shelter “Dona Di Maria” May 21, 2013)

Examination of Conscience:

- Sinabi ni Jesus, “Anuman ang gawinninyo sa pinahamak ninyong kapatid, ito ay sa akin ninyo ginawa.”- Nakikita ba natin ang mukha ni Jesus sa mga taong dukha, maliliit at mahina?- Kanino kayo nahihirapan makita angmukha ni Jesus?

“When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing with them, not only do we no longer remain poor; we are enriched. When someone needing food knocks at your door, you always find a way of sharing food.” (To the Community of Varginha, July 25, 2013)

Examination of Conscience:

- Ano ang maituturo sa iyo ng mgakapatid na dukha at nagdarahop?- Ayon sa Panginoon, sino ang mgataong dapat mo patuluyin sa iyongbuhay? Sa ating parokya? Sa inyong pamayanan?

Parish Program for the Poor

“Pananagutan at Damayan”(The Spirituality of Sharing)

“A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all, to satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being.”(Based on Luke 16:19-31, the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.)(To the Food and Agricultural Organization, June 20, 2013)

Examination of Conscience:

- Sa ating panahon ngayon, sinoang mga Lazaro na dapat natingtulungan? - Sino naman ang mga itinuturingna mayaman? - Saan natin nakikita ang atingsarili?

Unfair Labor Practice in the Philippines:

- Contractualization of Labor- Laborers are denied of security of tenure and employment benefits.

“Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid.” (Evangelii Gaudium, #187)

“Among our tasks, as witnesses to the love of Christ, is that of giving a voice to the cry of the poor.” (To the Bishop of Canterbury, June 14, 2013)

Examination of Conscience:

Ano ang dapat nating baguhin saating puso upang makatugon tayosa tawag sa mga panaghoy ng mganasa matinding kahirapan?

“Jesus commanded his disciples: ‘You yourselves, give them something to eat!’ (Mark 6:37):

It means working to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and to promote the integral development of the poor.” (From Evangelii Gaudium, #187)

“Poverty calls us to sow hope…. Poverty is the flesh of the poor Jesus, in the child who is hungry, in the one who is sick, in those unjust social structures.” (To the Students of Jesuit School, June 7, 2013)

Examination of Conscience:

- Saan ko nakikita ang pag-asa?- Saan ko nakikita ang mgaestruktura ng kawalan ngkatarungan?- Saan mo nakikita si Jesus?

We need to share the joy of the Gospel to the poor.

“The worst discrimination which the poor suffer is the lack of spiritual care. The great majority of the poor have a special openness to the faith; they need God and we must not fail to offer them his friendship, his blessing, his word, the celebration of the sacraments and a journey of growth and maturity in the faith…

“…Our preferential option for the poor must mainly translate into a privileged and preferential care.”(From Evangelii Gaudium, #200)

Examination of Conscience:

- Nararamdaman ba natin angpagkauhaw sa Diyos ng mga dukha? - Paano natin naibabahagi ang galakng Ebanghelyo sa mga dukha?- Paano natin naisasalin ang“preferential option for the poor” ngSimbahan pagdating sa pagdiriwangng Sakramento?

“Ang Simbahan ng mga Dukha”(Pagbubuo ng mga Kristiyanong

Pamayanan)

Pagbibigay ng libreng paglilingkod: Binyag, Kumpil at Kasal