by Father Michael W. Panicali
Just over three weeks ago, I traveled to Lima, Peru, at the kind invitation of my online Spanish teacher, who lives in this beautiful and historic South American capital city, and offered to show me around his city before he relocates. This trip emerged after I randomly expressed to him that I had a dream that I was flying in an airplane and had a bird’s-eye view of the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu, a place on my bucket list.
My teacher stated that he does not live anywhere near Machu Picchu but that he would be happy to show me Lima. I jumped at the opportunity, and right after New Year’s, hopped onto a plane for a memorable five-day trip that included a lot of language immersion with my daily taxi-cab driver, who did not speak any English, much to my benefit. (And no, the plane never flew over Machu Picchu, but seeing the South American coast on the Pacific was itself pretty awesome.)
The Saturday before the Epiphany, after visiting the courtyard of the church of St. Rose of Lima and seeing the tiny one-room cottage where this saint spent several hours immersed in prayer for the poor and sick of Lima and the water well into which she was known to cast many prayers written on small slips of paper (with the practice continuing today by visitors), my driver and I found ourselves walking alongside heavy traffic on a bridge over a wide sediment-filled river, that led into a very economically
distressed area.
It was clear, judging by the buildings and conditions that I began seeing the farther I walked over the bridge, that the area was markedly different from the grand European-esque courtyard where Lima’s archdiocesan cathedral and Peru’s president’s residence is located. In the distance were sweeping hills that had very little greenery and were emblematic of the area’s desert climate.
What was at the base of the hills was very noteworthy — numerous homes in poor condition humbly clustered together. I would soon learn that those homes had no running water. The inhabitants had to physically transport water up to their homes from where it was accessible. This was occurring in an otherwise modern city that attracts millions of tourists for its beauty, charm, history, and culinary delights.
I remarked to my Spanish teacher when I saw him the next day when we met at a modern mall with sweeping views of these poverty-stricken hills in the distance (the juxtaposition was striking) that it is to those individuals living in poverty at the base of the hills that Jesus is speaking, when in today’s Gospel, after unfolding the scroll, he proclaims, reading from Isaiah but uniquely referring to Himself, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.”
The Bible tells us, both throughout the Old and New Testament, that we, the faithful, must always prioritize the needs of the poor, who Jesus says will always be with us. Indeed, they have always been. Numerous factors contribute to millions living in poverty throughout the world — and the most notable factor, I said to my teacher, is personal and social sin.
What I also remarked upon is that those living in poverty can be closest to the heart of Jesus in their humility, their simplicity, and above all else, their dependence on God. These are all very good things. This is what Jesus looks for. This is the substance for eternal life. Jesus provides comfort to the poor so that they can have the hope of eternal glory. The poor, in turn, provide examples to us of how it is to live in imitation of Jesus, Our Lord.
Readings for Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Father Michael W. Panicali is the Parochial Vicar for St. Helen, Howard Beach. He is also chaplain of Knights of Columbus, Council 6134, Most Precious Blood-Sts. Simon and Jude, Bath Beach.
