Around the World with CFCA

The poverty and potential

March 24, 2010 at 3:52 pm Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA) Leave a comment

Lenten reflection: Holy Week

At CFCA, we often say, “We don’t see poverty, we see potential.” It is important to emphasize the hope and possibilities that sponsorship brings to a person and to a family.

However, we, of course, do see poverty. We are walking with the most vulnerable people in the world. To say we do not see the poverty would be to deny their reality, their daily struggles. Doing so would mean glossing over the heroism they show us in overcoming those hardships.

One of the gifts of sponsorship is that it gives us a fuller understanding of that reality. Instead of being apart from the dirt, sweat, smells, hunger and indignities that those living in poverty experience on a daily basis, they let us into their lives so that we can more fully understand their reality. We can see Jesus and the poor walking together and witness their suffering.

As Christians, we cannot have Easter without Good Friday. We cannot truly celebrate the light without honestly, boldly facing the darkness. We cannot celebrate potential without seeing the reality of poverty.

As we enter Holy Week beginning this week on Palm Sunday, let us hold close to our hearts those who live every day the dynamic interplay of Good Friday and Easter. Death, life, doubt, hope, loneliness and community: poverty and potential.

Entry filed under: Around the World with CFCA. Tags: aging, catholic, cfca, children, christian, Easter, Good Friday, Lent, Lenten reflection, Palm Sunday.