Monday, December 19, 2005
Forsaking the poor at Christmas: The real scandal
There is a Christmas scandal this year, but it's not the controversy at shopping malls and retail stores about whether their displays say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." The real Christmas scandal is the budget proposed by the House of Representatives that cuts health care, and other assistance to low-income families - while further lowering taxes for the wealthiest Americans and increasing the deficit for all of our grandchildren.
Last week, hundreds of religious leaders and faith-based organizers who daily serve the poor braved the cold for what was meant to be a political protest but became a revival and prayer meeting in the United States capital. This was the culmination of a yearlong effort by people of faith to teach our nation's political leaders that "a budget is a moral document." In the final stages of the budget process, after praying and making their best arguments from afar, they decided to take their prayers and presence to the steps of the Cannon House Office Building.
After some powerful preaching on the steps and a press conference that was more like a revival, they continued their praying and singing in front of the entrance, symbolizing the denial of access to Congress for low-income people. "Come walk with us!" they said as they invited members of Congress into their neighborhoods to meet the people who will be most effected by their votes on a budget that virtually assaults low-income families. They sounded like a choir (and a good one at that) as they sang Christmas carols while being arrested, handcuffed, put into buses, and taken to a large holding cell roughly a mile away.
The text they kept repeating at the Capitol Christmas vigil was from the book of Luke -- the best words ever about the true meaning of the coming of the Christ child. Mary, the mother of Jesus, herself a poor woman from an oppressed race and an occupied country, prophesied in her powerful prayer of thanksgiving -- the Magnificat -- about the Messiah she carried in her womb.
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty."
On Capitol Hill, Mary would be accused of class warfare for uttering such words, but they still bear the true meaning of Christmas. And the budget and tax cuts being proposed by House leaders directly reverse the priorities of Mary. Instead of filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, this budget would fill the rich with good things and send the hungry away empty!
The vigil in Washington, DC, was followed by more than 70 vigils in more than 30 states. We prayed for a change of heart in our Washington leaders, we prayed for the poor families we serve, and we prayed that those elected to represent us act to protect the common good in ways consistent with the Christmas message of hope.
Last week, hundreds of religious leaders and faith-based organizers who daily serve the poor braved the cold for what was meant to be a political protest but became a revival and prayer meeting in the United States capital. This was the culmination of a yearlong effort by people of faith to teach our nation's political leaders that "a budget is a moral document." In the final stages of the budget process, after praying and making their best arguments from afar, they decided to take their prayers and presence to the steps of the Cannon House Office Building.
After some powerful preaching on the steps and a press conference that was more like a revival, they continued their praying and singing in front of the entrance, symbolizing the denial of access to Congress for low-income people. "Come walk with us!" they said as they invited members of Congress into their neighborhoods to meet the people who will be most effected by their votes on a budget that virtually assaults low-income families. They sounded like a choir (and a good one at that) as they sang Christmas carols while being arrested, handcuffed, put into buses, and taken to a large holding cell roughly a mile away.
The text they kept repeating at the Capitol Christmas vigil was from the book of Luke -- the best words ever about the true meaning of the coming of the Christ child. Mary, the mother of Jesus, herself a poor woman from an oppressed race and an occupied country, prophesied in her powerful prayer of thanksgiving -- the Magnificat -- about the Messiah she carried in her womb.
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty."
On Capitol Hill, Mary would be accused of class warfare for uttering such words, but they still bear the true meaning of Christmas. And the budget and tax cuts being proposed by House leaders directly reverse the priorities of Mary. Instead of filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty, this budget would fill the rich with good things and send the hungry away empty!
The vigil in Washington, DC, was followed by more than 70 vigils in more than 30 states. We prayed for a change of heart in our Washington leaders, we prayed for the poor families we serve, and we prayed that those elected to represent us act to protect the common good in ways consistent with the Christmas message of hope.
