Christian Mission and Poverty

Introduction

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following Jesus means refusing to be mastered by riches. Following this, we hear from Benedict’s Rule , a highly influential guide for how monastic communities are to live. Benedict will stress the importance of sharing all things in common. After this, we hear from two great church fathers of the East, Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. Each interprets a story from the Gospels to teach us how we as Christians are to live in regard to money and poverty. Basil uses the story of the rich young ruler to call wealthy Christians to the necessity of seeking justice for the poor. Chrysostom uses the story of the rich man and Lazarus to claim that a refusal to share riches with the poor is the same as stealing from them. Next, we read the medieval abbess 8 Clare of Assisi’s letter to a ruler, Agnes of Prague. In it, she praises Agnes’ faithfulness to give up wealth and to wed herself to Holy Poverty. Catherine of Siena, an anchorite, 9 then talks with us about what it means to be obedient with regard to wealth. She will help us distinguish between poverty as obedience and begging as destitution. Following this reading, we hear from the medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas about theft and usury. 10 The reformer Martin Luther then helps us understand what it means to work in light of God’s provision. He uses Psalm 127 to illustrate that we are to work in obedience 8 Abbess – the head of an abbey of nuns. 9 Anchorite – a hermit or recluse. 10 Usury – to loan at interest, usually at unreasonably high rates or for the purchase of necessities or things that are consumed.