What do these Church folk mean by the “Church of the Poor?” It don’t look very poor to me. Most of the Christians I see are doing pretty well.

Well, you see, it don’t really mean the Church of Poor people. How could you and me support a church the way it’s been accustomed? I guess it means the “Church Worried about Poor People.’

That’s too bad. I sure don’t want them worrying about me. I’ll get along—the government gets me my check each month, usually on time.

Yeah, but what would these church folk do with their time? They spend a lot of time worrying about somebody.

They do?

Sure. They used to worry about slaves and pagans and drinks.

Was it the church folk that freed the slaves? I though it was Lincoln.

Well, the churches worried so much they started a war. Same with the pagans. They sent preachers out there and made them wear clothes.

That was nice.

No, many of them died because they had never wore clothes.

Did the church make the drunks happy?

No they just made them thirsty. You heard about Prohibition.

No, I don’t read like you do. But look here, how come nobody ever tries to straighten out these religious people? If it ain’t the Church of the poor, but just the Church Worried about the Poor they don’t want to be worried about, then why don’t somebody give them the word?

You mean talk about the poor so they’ll really do something about it. That would really be something. You mean a man who was poor himself, not even a place to sleep? You mean a guy who was rough on these fat cats who lay up treasures, investments and lands unless they laid up some of God’s treasures too?

The power structure wouldn’t like him.

He’d probably start something called “Poor power.” Sounds like a radical to me.

Remember old Lazarus who was so poor and sick he used to hang around the motels eating garbage?

I never thought old Laz was very sanitary.

He wasn’t. But the government said he couldn’t get his welfare check. He was dirty.

I suppose your friend would speak highly of him.

He probably would. I can see him helping the poor and curing the blind. He might even do something for Widow Jones from Naim who lost her son last week.

Do you think he would talk to the rich folks too? Take Shorty Zaccheus, who’s doing all right for himself these days. Or some of the fuzz like that police sergeant from Capheranaum, or old Judge Jairus who lost his daughter.

I don’t know much about the establishment. But he would probably figure they needed his Church too.

You’re talking as if such a preacher really existed. You got me thinking he’d be saying to the wealthy ones—“Woe to you rich! Woe to you who are filled!”

Maybe he did exist. Someone must have got this church of the poor off the ground. Imagine the site of the first Christian she go together-the poor in spirit, the meek, and the sad, the hungry and thirsty, and those who were persecuted.

How do you reckon this old rich Church of rich folks started out so poor.

I read it in a book called the Gospel. A flick named Luke wrote it.

Makes you think, don’t it?

Sure does. Well Merry Christmas, Charlie.

Same to you Joe.

Paul J. Hallinan

Archbishop of Atlanta