Simplicity: Preferential Option for the Poor

This past week we had groups from a variety of different colleges up at the farm. On Monday we talked about the Catholic Social Teachings and the principle of Preferential Option for the Poor. In that discussion I pointed out how I believed that we are often the over-looked poor and vulnerable; overlooked because we are blessed with an abundance of things. I also pointed out how I believe that it is dangerous to overlook our vulnerability. When we suffocate ourselves with and abundance of things and fail to recognize our blessings we begin to lose the importance of God in our lives. We begin to pretend that we are self-made and that we are in complete control of our lives.

When all this happens not only do we lose sight of God but we lose sight of the poor and we begin to lose sight of even ourselves. We begin to question our faith, we isolate ourselves from humanity and we begin to consider our wants as needs.

Thoreau once said “We often starve ourselves not of lack of necessity, but for lack of wants.” We do this when we begin to view even small things such as coffee in the morning as a necessity in order to function during the day or to not be grumpy with others. We can see signs of this when we think we need t.v. in order to ease our minds after a long day of school or work. In reality those are addictions and escape mechanisms that have replaced God in your lives to provide for the energy, or ease of mind.

In a consumer based society we are targeted daily and are told we need things in order to succeed or to prosper and to be happy. We have created a society in which some believe it is impossible to live successfully unless you spend one hundred thousand dollars on a college degree so that you can get a career that makes good money. But what is the point? What is the motivation behind all that? What is our definition of success? Jesus warned us not to be motivated by “mammon” or material goods. Because they will grow old and even your mind will leave you some day. It is not our physical abilities, our material possessions or even what we know that points to our success in life, but rather it is how we love and serve others that determines our path to Christ. Now, I am not saying do not educate yourselves by any means, in fact, education is extremely important and something we need to strive for. It will help us live informed lives able to advance Gods gifts that we are given, but our attitude, motivation and value that we place with high costing diplomas should be evaluated. Are the poor given the same opportunities or do we create a divide between those that can/have a college degree and those who can’t/don’t?

Put simply: To have the goal in life to make money and collect things is dangerous, selfish and causes people to wander from the faith.

What is the faith that we wander from? The two greatest commandments are to love God with your whole heart soul, mind and strength and to love each other as Christ loved us. When we look at how Christ loved us, we see simplicity and we see sacrifice. We see that our faith is to serve the poor, feed the hungry, visit the lonely, welcome the outcasts and heal the sick. This is why we sacrifice and live simply. To free ourselves for those callings in whatever form they take.

When we disengage ourselves from material goods, comforts, and false needs we expose our vulnerability and recognize our dependence on God. When we depend on God he provides and that leads to much courage and joy. The most confidence one can have is found through the strength that God provides. Our actions can then become intentional, our wants are then realized as wants and our blessings are recognized, given thanks for and shared with others.

So, today I would like you all to take a moment to reflect on your lives. What are the blessings in your life? What in your life do you consider your needs? What are your wants? Most importantly, what can you sacrifice in your life to open yourself up to service, community or prayer?