Wealth and Poverty in Christianity

In the latter part of the fourth century, amidst a famine and drought, Basil of Caesarea embraced a still new, public role for a Christian leader, that of ‘lover of the poor.’ For Basil, this role entailed preaching forcefully – even confrontationally - to the wealthy of the city, laying bare the hidden suffering of the poor in a time of famine and drought in the starkest of terms and raising funds for food and medical aid. In 2021, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m struck by the way that this role continues to be of paramount importance. The winter rains had refused to fall in Caesarea in 369, in what is now modern-day Turkey, resulting in food shortages, panic among the rich and hunger among the most marginalized citizens, immigrants and slaves. By 370, fear had taken root among the city’s landowners and they were unwilling to release grain from their storehouses. Into this calamity a new voice was heard, that of a Christian bishop, exercising a bishop’s public role in imperial Roman...

This homily was preached at St. George's Episcopal in Newburgh, NY on September 19th for the first Eucharist of the newly ordained priest, the Rev. Dr. Mary Barber.  Good evening. First and foremost, I want to say that it is a joy to be here with all of you and, especially, to witness and be a part of the Rev. Mary’s first Eucharist. Today is a great day in the life of the Church.  In today’s Gospel from Mark, Jesus and his disciples are passing through the region of Galilee in secret. Jesus was avoiding large crowds and was instead trying to tell the disciples what was about to happen to him, but we read that “they did not understand what he was saying and they were afraid to ask him.”  For instead of asking what Jesus meant, the disciples were engaged in a heated argument among themselves. When I hear this passage, I imagine the disciples fighting in the way that siblings sometimes do – or at least that I did with my siblings. That is, in secret -- trying to keep one’s ...

Preached on September 18 in Bethlehem, PA at the ordinations of Bruce Gowe and Joseph (Jay) O'Rear to the transitional diaconate.  Good morning. First and foremost, I would like to begin by saying congratulations to Bruce and Jay as you are ordained to the diaconate. It is a joy to be able to witness this moment, and it is an honor to have been asked to reflect upon what this crossing of the threshold means. Because it is a crossing of a threshold, at once the culmination of a long journey as well as the beginning of a new role and authority within the Church. This moment comes with a new title. Suddenly, you will no longer be Bruce and Jay, but the Reverend Bruce and the Reverend Jay. There are new clothes too. In today’s service, you will be vested as a deacon, but there’s also daily wear, with a white collar now setting you apart. Which begs the question: set apart for what? In today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke, we hear Jesus’ disciples insisting that they have been set ap...