The Gospel of Luke addresses the issue of the poor more directly than any of the other gospel accounts. Throughout the gospel, Jesus challenges the divide between the rich and the poor as he calls the church to live into a different reality from this world, a Kingdom reality. The difficult teachings throughout Luke’s gospel account make us squirm and uncomfortable as they call the church to address the societal divides of poverty and the marginalization that comes with it. When we think of “the rich” we think of those who are richer than we are and fail to recognize and accept the challenge of Jesus’s teachings for ourselves.
Luke’s Gospel begins with Mary’s song where she proclaims that the Messiah she is carrying will “Fill the hungry with good things but send the rich away empty.” The birth of Jesus is then proclaimed to the least of Israel, shepherds (2:8). John the Baptizer proclaims the Messiah’s arrival and calls the people to fruitful living where “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same” (3:11). He then corrects the extortionary practices of tax collectors and soldiers. When Jesus begins his ministry he reads from the book of Isaiah proclaiming, “good news to the poor…freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (4:18-19). After announcing that this scripture is now fulfilled in their hearing, he then pointed to a time when Israel was in need, but God sent Elijah to the needy outside of Israel (Sidon and Syria) to bring them healing. It is at this point that they tried to throw him off a cliff.
Jesus often brings teachings that make people uncomfortable. He challenged his listeners to a point where they wanted to throw him off a cliff. Being with “the least of these” can go too far when we get truly challenged with who these people are in our lives. We’re often willing to send money or provide service from a distance but who are “the least of these” in our lives who push us beyond our comforts in building relationships with them? It is when we learn to be with people where they are, in whatever situation they are in, that we will begin to know God and see the inbreaking of the Kingdom in whole new ways.
Luke’s Gospel has a number of unique stories that are not found in the other gospel accounts that highlight teachings on money and the wealth divide. Encounters with people like Zacchaeus (19:1-10), parables like the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31), and the parable of the banquets and places of honor (14:7-14), and other examples throughout Luke’s work paint a picture of a new kind of economy in God’s kingdom. Luke then presents the beginnings of the church in Acts with people sharing their possessions and having everything in common (Acts 2:42-47) and continues examples of taking care of the “least of these” within the church throughout Acts. The practice of being with the least of these begins in the close circle of the church where we reevaluate life together in the presence of God.
The church practices the inbreaking of the Kingdom in how bridges are built between diverse people and then moves into the other circles of life to be the gospel for others. Ministry to people in need is always a good thing and helps them in their moment of need. We’re called to move beyond our ministry to and find ways to be with people. This with-ness is relational and transformative. It is a relationship where one is open to receive as well as give. This with-ness closes gaps between people groups and creates space for the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God.
When given an opportunity to help serve food to those in need, how can you practice being with the people you serve?
As you continue to go back and serve in those spaces, how can you build on relationship in a way that meets needs beyond hunger?
When you serve those in need, how can you enter that space with a hand open to receive from them?