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by The Rev. Dr. Peter Wells, Associate Conference Minister
February/March 2009
I begin with a confession. I am worried about my financial future.
A year ago I wasn’t all that worried. I would open the pension statement and dream of all the wonderful things I was going to be able to do because of what I saw on that paper. Market value up – retirement expectation high – Athens, Rome and Mt. Marcy here I come.
Now I am worried. I didn’t even open the pension statement the last time it came. Denial has its advantages. Market value down – who me retire? I know that for many if not most of our congregations the news has also not been good. Portfolios are down – budgets in even greater imbalance – cutbacks are on the table.
It is understandable that in the midst of this crisis our focus might be inward. But is that the focus of the faithful? It is logical that we might be worried about our personal and corporate financial well being. But is that the logic of the faithful? It is reasonable to expect that we might view this crisis from a self-interested point of view. But is that faithful reasoning?
I am not arguing (actually I am trying not to argue) that we put aside all personal concerns. That would be reckless at best. But as a people of faith we are not to be our primary focus. Our well being, financial or otherwise, is not to be our primary concern. We are to “proclaim good news to the poor.” And good news is “the year of the Lord’s favor”(for all people not just for ourselves).
For many of us this economic downturn is new news. Financially we have had it good for a long time. But for the poor of this land, and elsewhere, it is not news at all. It is a reality they have had to live with while the likes of me have watched my pension grow.
There is nothing new to the poor about losing a home. There is nothing new to the poor about having to choose between food and medicine. There is nothing new to the poor about facing unemployment. There is nothing new to the poor about being un or underemployed. There is nothing new to the poor about facing a future without the hope of even a few golden years.
In these difficult times I know that the church will respond generously. As we have in the past we will fill food banks, staff soup kitchens, send material aid, and give generously to special appeals.
This charity is important, but in the end charity is not the good news we are called to proclaim. The Good news are efforts to end systemic economic injustice which creates the demand for food banks, soup kitchens, shelters and special appeals.
Good news is to work with “the least of these” to “loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke.” (Isaiah 58:6).
Good news is the work for justice and peace.
While the politicians may be concerned about Wall Street, Main Street and the Middle Class we need to stand with those on the margins who often wander the streets with no place called home. For them this crisis is old news and they continue to wait to hear some good news.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Lk 4:18-19).