蜜桃交友

By Francesca Merlo

鈥淭he prayer of the poor rises up to God鈥� is the theme for this year鈥檚 World Day of the Poor, celebrated annually on the third Sunday of November. The 2024 edition will be the eighth of its kind after Pope Francis called for the day in 2017 and it comes just as Rome prepares to welcome pilgrims from around the world for the 2025 Jubilee year. In this regard, Pope Francis writes in his message for the World Day, released on 13 June, that 鈥渢his expression of biblical wisdom is most fitting鈥�.

Christian hope embraces the poor

He explains that 鈥淐hristian hope embraces the certainty that our prayer reaches God鈥檚 presence; not just any prayer but rather the prayer of the poor!鈥�  So, as the year of anticipation for the Jubilee draws to a close, the Holy Father urges the faithful to reflect on this word and 鈥渞ead鈥� it on the faces and in the stories of the poor whom we encounter daily, 鈥渟o that prayer can become a path of communion with them and a sharing in their suffering鈥�.

Prayer in the Book of Sirach

The expression that gives the 2024 World Day of the Poor its theme is taken from the Book of Sirach, which Pope Francis says is not sufficiently known and deserves to be discovered for the richness of its themes.

One of these themes is prayer. The author, Ben Sira, a teacher and scribe from the 2nd Century BC, gives personal experience to his voice, and he does so successfully, says the Pope, as 鈥渘o writing on prayer can be effective and fruitful if it does not stem from someone who stands daily in God鈥檚 presence and listens to his Word鈥�.  In fact, Ben Sira himself declared that he sought wisdom from his prayers.

On this journey, he discovered that the poor hold a privileged place in God鈥檚 heart. 鈥淕od knows the sufferings of his children because he is an attentive and caring father,鈥� said the Pope. 鈥淎s a father, he takes care of those who are most in need: the poor, the marginalised, the suffering and the forgotten. No one is excluded from His heart, for in His eyes, we are all poor and needy鈥�. 

The unfortunate mentality of our days

Pope Francis goes on to note that unfortunately, the mentality that governs the world today asks of us that we become somebody and make a name for ourselves 鈥渁t any cost鈥�, But, Pope Francis warns, 鈥淗appiness cannot be acquired by trampling on the rights and dignity of others鈥�.

The violence caused by wars clearly shows the arrogance of those who consider themselves to be powerful before men and women, says the Pope, adding that however, the truth is that 鈥渢hey are poor in the eyes of God鈥�. 

鈥淗ow many more people are impoverished by misguided policies involving weapons!  How many innocent victims!  Yet we cannot turn our backs to this reality鈥�. 

As we think of these horrific realities, in this year dedicated to prayer, we 鈥渘eed to make the prayer of the poor our own and pray together with them鈥�, says the Pope.

The Lord's judgement will be in favour of the poor

Addressing the poor directly, the Pope says not to lose the certainty that 鈥淕od is attentive to each of you and is close to you鈥�. As the book of Sirach asserts, 鈥渢he Lord鈥檚 judgment will be in favour of the poor鈥� and from poverty, therefore, 鈥渢he song of the most genuine hope can spring up鈥�. 

Pope Francis goes on to express his gratitude for the World Day that has become a fixture for every ecclesial community. 鈥淚t is a pastoral opportunity not to be underestimated鈥� and an 鈥渙ccasion to implement initiatives that concretely help the poor鈥�. For this, he added, 鈥淲e must thank the Lord for the people who make themselves available to listen to and support the poorest among us鈥�.

There can be no charity without prayer

Bringing his message to a close, Pope Francis explains that prayer is verified by authentic charity that manifests itself as encounter and proximity. 鈥淚f prayer does not translate into concrete action, it is in vain; indeed, 鈥渇aith by itself, if it has no works, is dead鈥�. However, he concludes, 鈥渃harity without prayer risks becoming philanthropy that soon exhausts itself鈥�.