NEITHER POVERTY NOR RICHES

PRAYER MOMENT                      

Wednesday 24 September 2014.

NEITHER POVERTY NOR RICHES

Pause. Be still in God’s presence.

Reading: “Give me neither poverty nor riches, grant me only my share of bread to eat, for fear that surrounded by plenty I should fall away and say, “The Lord - who is the Lord?” or else, in destitution, take to stealing.” (Proverbs 30:5-9)

Reflection. Perhaps we should say Zimbabwe is a good place to live! Though there is great wealth and great poverty it is a country where many experience neither wealth nor poverty. They live a precarious life in between. The writer of the Book of Proverbs knew well in his time what we know today: wealth and power can dull the spirit and leave one saying, ‘The Lord – who is the Lord?’ We turn to the Lord in times of trial and difficulty as we do to a doctor. But otherwise we leave him alone. We don’t need him. And, conversely, poverty and powerlessness can make a person desperate and irresponsible. He will quieten his conscience in an effort to survive. The precarious life on the other hand, where you do not know where you will be this coming Christmas, prompts one to a deeper sense of trust. “Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread” (Luke 9:1-6). We should at least listen to the message behind these words of Jesus even if we do travel with our suitcase packed.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, teach us to live in balance; wanting neither too much or too little. Help us to be content and ever attentive to your word. Amen.  

David Harold-Barry SJ