6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C        February 11, 2007

Poor and blessed?  Or rich and destined to a life of woe?  Sure, compared to Bill Gates we’re poor.  But poverty is relative.  If the world had only 100 people, 6 of them would own 60% of the world’s wealth, and all six would be from the United States.  80 people would live in substandard housing.  70 would be illiterate.  50 would suffer from malnutrition.  One would have a college degree.  One would own a computer.

Now, compare yourself to the ¾ of the world that is truly poor.  Start with your home.  First, take away the electricity, next the plumbing, no running water, no bathroom.  You get your drinking water from the local stream, parasite infested and loaded with toxic chemicals.  Now, empty your closets and drawers of everything.  Indeed, with nothing to put in them, you don’t need drawers and closets, so get rid of them, too.  All you have is what you’re wearing... minus shoes and socks.  Now get rid of your whole house except one room, and remove the floor and window glass.  This, dear friends, is the poverty of billions of our brothers and sisters.

Yet, despite our riches, we, too, can be blessed, not by becoming poor and downtrodden, but by hearing and responding to Jesus preaching.  Sr. Mary is going to help us do that now, hear and respond better to Jesus.