Advent Reflection Week Three

The Lord hears the cry of the poor (Psalm 34)

Written by Sr. Patricia Kofron, ASCJ

How many times I’ve sung or read that response during our beautiful season of Advent and at other times throughout our liturgical year! But never before has it struck me as profoundly as during this pandemic-ridden season of 2021.

Exactly how does the Lord hear the cry of the poor? Does God just “hear” them or does God do something about their cries? A bit of panic overcomes me when day after day, news article after news article, I read of the social injustices and inhumane treatment of the poor and downtrodden in our county and in countries throughout the world. Am I singing something or praying something that’s not grounded in reality?

Surely our God is faithful to what has been promised! How then? Yes! God uses you and me to hear those cries, and, as God’s disciples, to do something about them. It might be something as simple as uttering a well-intentioned prayer on behalf of those in need, or perhaps responding to your parish food drive, or by participating in the “Adopt-a-Family" program sponsored by the Society of St. Vincent DePaul.

Most of us will not be called to do anything extraordinary or newsworthy to “hear the cries of the poor,” but a simple plea asking our Lord to open our eyes to the poor around us will help us bring the good news of our Incarnate God to those most in need!