THE SIXTH WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

Nov 11

Letter from the Pastor

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 13, 2022

On November 20, 2016, at the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis established the World Day of the Poor to be celebrated on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time. This year marks its 6th celebration. Echoing Jesus’ own words and message, Pope Francis’ he has consistently called the world to be mindful of the poor, the immigrant, and the least among us.

In his letter marking this World Day of the Poor he notes that a “patch of blue sky (is) opening” as we emerge from the “tempest of the pandemic” but then he quickly speaks of the devastation caused by the war in Ukraine. “What great poverty is produced by the senselessness of war!”

On this Sixth World Day of the Poor, we are asked “to reflect on the summons of the Apostle to keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, who ‘though he was rich, yet for [our] sakes became poor, so that by his poverty [we] might become rich’ (cf. 2 Cor. 8:9).

Pope Francis speaks of our need to be in solidarity with others. He says that “solidarity is sharing the little we have with those who have nothing, so that no one will go without.” He goes on to say that “As members of a civil society, let us continue to uphold the values of freedom, responsibility, fraternity and solidarity. And as Christians, let us always make charity, faith and hope the basis of our lives and our actions.

Following the example of the Apostles, he notes that there is a need for action, not just words. This action, again recalling St. Paul, Pope Francis says is not by force or “command” (2Cor 8:8) but out of the genuineness of love.” He says, “Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated.”

Pope Francis’ truly Franciscan nature shines forth when he writes, “Encountering the poor enables us to put an end to many of our anxieties and empty fears, and to arrive at what truly matters in life, the treasure that no one can steal from us: true and gratuitous love. The poor, before being the object of our almsgiving, are people, who can help set us free from the snares of anxiety and superficiality.

I would encourage you to read Pope Francis’ letter in its entirety on the Vatican website. The link is below as is the link to the letter from the Franciscan Minister General, Fr. Massimo Fusarelli, ofm.

As we approach the end of this Liturgical year and Thanksgiving, let us we take account of how we are truly blessed and may this World Day of the Poor be a blessing for us and for the world.