Today’s reading is a written dialogue between Nicaraguan Priest Ernesto Cardenal and the congregants from a migrant Farmer’s camp on the island of Solentiname. Cardenal recounts the NT narrative of Mary Magdalene washing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume out of an alabaster jar. The remainder of the article is the group engaging all the aspects of the narrative and applying it to their own lives. Their reactions are honest and insightful.
I am drawn to Cardenal’s discussion over Jesus’ comments after the event and following the disciples’ negative reaction. Jesus praises Mary’s act, prophesizes its historical impact, and ends with an intriguing, confusing final statement. He says, “the poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me with you.” I have taken this simply to be Jesus pointing out the ongoing reality of a poverty in a sinful world and his temporary state in the flesh. Cardenal doesn’t dismiss this interpretation but he does postulate another aspect of interpretation. Cardenal says to the group, “Very simply. As long as there are poor, they will always be among us, we shall not be separated from them. Because the Christian community must be with the poor.” Furthermore, he points out the possibility that the poor among us is actually the presence of Christ, to be replaced by the risen Christ at His second coming. Certainly, the inhibited, perfected new earth will not know the reality of poverty, everyone will be satisfied and content. But that does not mean that the presence of current poverty should always come with a stain and stench of evil.
To see the poor, really see them is to see Christ. To serve the poor, to listen to them is to serve and hear from Christ himself. To be rich is not to overcome a sin of poverty. To be rich is to be filled with the contentment of knowing and doing the will of Christ to the glory of God.