Scripture Reading: Psalm 41:1
It is clear from these passages that God cares about our attitudes toward and actions regarding the hungry, the oppressed, the widows, the strangers, and the orphans. There are verses here that speak of God’s people being chastised for not caring for this groups of people.
(4) WE SHOULD BE GENEROUS TO THE POOR AND THE NEEDY: Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-11 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.” Perhaps no other series of verses in the Bible so clearly illustrate and describe the nature of our heart attitude toward the poor as these in Deuteronomy. We are called to be sensitive to their situations and are challenged not to harden our hearts to them. That sensitivity leads to a giving spirit…and not just any giving spirit. It is a beautiful picture the Bible paints of our hands being open wide, signifying a generous spirit of giving to their needs.
(5) WE SHOULD NOT OPPRESS OUR EMPLOYEES: Deuteronomy 24:14-15 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy…each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.” This addresses employers who might be tempted to withhold payment to their employees for work rendered. The poor of the day counted on receiving a day’s wage for whatever work they performed. They “set [their] heart on it.” They needed it to survive. God says the employer has no right to withhold it from them even for a day.
MASS: WHITE: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96: 1-2. 11-12.13(R.11a); Accl: The World became flesh and dwelt among us. To all who received him he gave power to become children of God; Gospel Jn 1:1-18 ST. SYLVESTER
Prayer Points:
1. Pray for those who are living without adequate healthcare, for those who are sick and dying from treatable diseases.
2. Pray for the land that is dry and barren due to drought, and for the people who have lost their crops and livestock to the parched land, terrorists and herdsmen attacks.
3. Pray to join the 2022 DSD 21-day fasting starting from Monday January 3rd, 2022.
Exercise: Pray for Daily Strength Charity groups that God will strengthen them in their work of reaching out to the prisoners and the needy
Meditation: James 1:27