Practising ‘the little details of love’
Given the state of the world, it can be hard to believe that “the prayer of the poor rises up to God” (Sirach 21.5) and is heard, the theme of the Message of Pope Francis for this year’s World Day of the Poor.
How can we fathom that “the poor hold a privileged place in God’s heart” when we are witnessing so much suffering such as the horrors of violence and war being experienced by so many innocent men, women and children?
“Christian hope,” writes Pope Francis, “embraces the certainty that our prayer reaches God’s presence; not just any prayer but rather the prayer of the poor!” He continues: “God knows the suffering of his children . . . As a father, he takes care of those who are most in need: the poor, the marginalised, the suffering and the forgotten”.
We are God’s partners in answering the prayers of the poor for deliverance – “each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor”.
Pope Francis says that the World Day of the Poor is now a pastoral “fixture” in the Church. “We are called in every circumstance to be friends of the poor, following in the footsteps of Jesus who always began by showing solidarity when dealing with the least among us”.
The Pope gives thanks for all who serve “the poorest among us”. The seeming silence of God to suffering “is broken every time a person in need is welcomed and embraced”.
We often feel helpless in the face of so many challenges facing humanity. I take encouragement from Pope Francis who strongly believes that in our daily interactions we can make a difference for the better in the lives of those in need.
“Let us not forget to keep ‘the little details of love’: stopping, drawing near, giving a little attention, a smile, a caress, a word of comfort”.
Photo by Tom Parsons on Unsplash
Séamus Claffey
