Jesus, Father of the poor, have mercy on us.
We noted earlier that it seems odd to identify Jesus as a Father. We are used to thinking of Him as the Son of the God the Father. Yet in some cases, Jesus actually can legitimately and quite elegantly be described as a Father. Here, for instance, we address Him as Father of the poor. He cares tenderly for people who are poor. He protects them and nourishes them, defends them and supports them, teaches them and encourages them. This is exactly what a father does.
We would do well to think, too, of who the “poor” are. We can certainly refer to the materially poor who must rely on Jesus because they lack the resources necessary to live. Many poor people find themselves closer to God as they come to trust Him more and more for their basic survival.
Yet we might also identify the spiritually poor, those whom Jesus refers to as the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). These are the anawim, God’s poor, those who know that no matter what their material status in the world, they are totally dependent upon God. These are the ones who place themselves in Jesus’ hands, trusting fully in Him, realizing that without Him they are nothing at all.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Jesus says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Our ultimate treasure in Heaven is Jesus Himself. He is the One we should be seeking always. He is where our hearts should be. For only in Him do we have true life, true happiness, and true wealth.
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