The Poor in the Church

Some exegetes suggest that when Jesus said, "You have the poor with you always" (Matthew 26:11), He meant that the wealthy of the world would never have any desire to change the social and economic structures on earth. Pay no attention to the fact that they came up with this interpretation based on the reality of times. The exegete’s concern is to reveal the author's intent in his words. I am not saying that they have condemned the rich of the world to be unjust forever. There have always been great wealthy individuals who followed Jesus in His poverty. I would not be disagreeing with the exegetes if I said that I see Jesus, in His saying, entrusting the poor of the earth to the poor in the Church. Notice the word "with you", which points out the Lord's followers yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I was not led to this by the knowledge that most of those who have responded to Jesus' call were poor, but that, in His call, He was indiscriminate between rich and poor. The Church consists of people who see no one in this world worthy of being impoverished for other than Jesus. This is the healing of the world from all injustice.