Francis outlines core programme for all Christians

Aug 28, 2014

By Anil Netto
It is not a surprise that Francis, the Bishop of Rome, has plunged into the very core of Christianity as highlighted in the charter of Jesus’ teachings during his ministry on earth.

It is very much in keeping with his vision of a Church of the poor. Francis recently exhorted Christians to memorise and imbibe the scripture text of Matthew 5:3-12. This, he said, was the identity card of those who call themselves Christian.

And these essential texts are to be taken to heart. So serious was he that he urged the crowd to repeat after him each line to stress its importance. It is a great pity that many Christians often forget these lines after their early familiarisation with Christian teaching.

For convenience, the text is reproduced below:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as their inheritance.
5 Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.
7 Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

The Beatitudes outline the real situations that will bring us lasting happiness.

Unlike Matthew, Luke has Jesus using the pronoun “you” to personalise a more radical message which seems to comfort and bless those living in destitution and under all kinds of affliction thus: “How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh...”

In these lines, Jesus may be seen as inverting the domination system of this planet in which the rich are perceived to be blessed and happy while lording over and oppressing the poor.

Francis, for his part, reminds us of Jesus’ promise that the meek will inherit the earth.

Wealth offers no guarantee of fulfilment. In fact, when the heart is rich with materialism and self satisfied, often there is no place for the Word of God.

A great many of the world’s problems are caused by the relentless pursuit of wealth and profits — leading to the exploitation of workers and the environment.

Neoliberal policies, formulated by politicians in league with Big Business, undermine community solidarity and social security networks, and result in the widening of income disparities.

We would do well to remember the domination order, it is those who mourn who will be comforted instead.

Francis also urges us to remember Matthew 25, where Jesus says we will be judged according to the following criteria:

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome,
36 lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.
37 Then the upright will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothed you?
39 When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?”
40 And the King will answer, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

Do our families, churches, politicians think about the poor and the vulnerable and the marginalised?

How is it that few people care when stateless people or refugees are charged higher fees in our hospitals when they can least afford it? What if they need urgent surgery for say, a liver transplant?

The above two texts are anticipated by Jesus at the beginning of his ministry when Luke quotes him as reading from the scroll of Isaiah:

18 The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, to give sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,

19 to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

This shows us that Jesus is not just offering us a pie-in-the-sky reward in the afterlife if we stick to his Beatitudes.

Instead, he is proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is at hand, a living seed that will grow and provide shade for all those who are suffering in this world. May we work towards that vision and make it a reality.--CNA