with open hands

Apr 16, 2026

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Ps 33

Jesus seems to promote poverty: blessed are the poor in spirit (The Beatitudes), the rich person and the eye of a needle — easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter Heaven and dozens of other Gospel moments.

So what does Jesus mean by poverty? Surely not the kind of poverty that overwhelms people with anxiety unable to provide food and shelter for themselves and their families?

The key to poverty is not whether or not we have material possessions but how much we are aware of our capacity for what we need but are unable to provide for ourselves.

And if I have no need for anything then I have no need for salvation which is a problem since the heart of Jesus’ job-description is to be saviour.

This is the beauty of Gospel poverty: when we have needs that we are unable to meet ourselves, then we are really ready for God, then we are truly poor.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

I will bless the Lord at all times,

his praise always on my lips;

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

They are happy who seeks refuge in God.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The Lord turns his eyes to the just

and his ears to their appeal.

They call and the Lord hears

and rescues them in all their distress.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;