I had been doing some research for a novel about a liberal Pope when I ran across this quote from Jim Wallis. I know this is the second time I’ve used someone else’s words today, but sometimes these things would never get shared if it meant rewriting it myself.
From Who Speaks for God by Jim Wallis, 1997 – Reed Business Information Inc.
Imagine if Jesus were to just show up at one of those budget-cutting sessions in the U.S. Congress. The legislators might be quite surprised as they looked up from their busy work to see a poorly dressed character in the doorway of their committee room.
“I was hungry. . .“ he says. “Well, we had to balance the budget,” they reply.
‘‘I was thirsty…” Earnestly they explain, “We had to cut somebody’s programs to reduce the deficit.’’
He quietly continues, ‘‘I was naked. . . .‘‘ Shifting uneasily in the chairs now, the politicians answer, ‘Maybe fending for themselves will help the poor to build character.’’
He goes on, “I was a stranger… ‘‘ They retort, “Well, from now on only U.S. citizens will be entitled to any social benefits.”
Looking them straight in the eyes he tells them, “I was sick. . . .‘‘ On the defensive now, they respond, ‘‘If you do get sick, you’re just going to have to pay more to get well.’’
Finally, he says to the politicians, “I was in prison. . .‘‘ Brightening up, they answer, ‘‘Well, you’re in luck there because we are going to build a lot more prisons.’’
The homeless-looking figure sadly turns and departs, concluding as he leaves, ‘‘As you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.”
We tend to demonize the poor, the outsider, the marginal, the homeless, the unemployed, the pregnant teenager, the illegal immigrant, the addicted, the one caught up in unfortunate circumstances—especially if their behavior becomes the least bit antisocial or disruptive.
What has happened to them must be mostly their fault, we defensively conclude. That helps us feel less responsible for their plight. Compassion does not seem to come very easily to us as human beings. The old expression There but for the grace of God go I, is one that we quite quickly forget.
Compassion is a requirement of good religion, and it is also a good test of politics. Why? Because it is the potentially marginalized who are the best test of any society’s understanding of community. (It’s also the test of how Christian we are.)
