17 November 2024 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) | 8th World Day of the Poor

by Fr Fabian Dicom

Today as we celebrate the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, we also mark the 8th World Day of the Poor which Pope Francis has declared with the theme: The prayer of the poor rises up to God, taken from the Book of Sirach.

Now this observance is not only a time for reflection but a call to action, inviting us to look closely at the reality of poverty, particularly the structural inequalities that perpetuate it. 

In Malaysia, we are acutely aware of how poverty is often intertwined, interconnected, with the access to education, healthcare and basic necessities like clean water, food and decent housing. While Malaysia has made significant strides in economic development, poverty remains a persistent issue, particularly among the marginalised communities, rural areas and migrant workers and refugees.

Now poverty in Malaysia is a controversial economic issue. The definition of poverty and the poverty line for Malaysians has been always disputed. And therefore we really cannot agree on the statistics but nevertheless, and government policies to address poverty such as the Malaysian New Economic Policy has been met with political protest.

The projected poverty rate for Malaysia for 2024 (the World Bank) is projected to be around 6.2%. And if we do the calculation, the population today is 34.3 Million, that makes it 2.1 Million people in Malaysia are living in poverty. And this is very conservative and I think it is much, much more than that. And this is not including the migrant and refugee population.

And that is serious. Just for Malaysia. Let us not even go to the whole world where there is so many people living in abject poverty.

Now as Pope Francis reminds us, the prayer of the poor is not a cry for material help but also an expression of faith and hope in a God who is near to the suffering.

The Pope in his message for the World Day of the Poor, reflecting on the experience and the words of Ben Sira, the author of the Book of Sirach, he says that the prayer of the poor reaches God’s heart, moving Him to respond.

And we are called to listen to their prayers and make it our own, thus leading us to be active participants in their lives. This listening is a path to communion with them and a sharing in their suffering.

Dear brothers and sisters, this call to listen to the voices of the poor is particularly important for us, all of us, who live in Malaysia. As we witness, many who despite their hard work, despite their struggle to make ends meet due to economic disparities, find it difficult. Refugees, migrant workers, the urban poor and communities in rural areas often find themselves excluded from the benefits of national growth. Caught in cycles of poverty that seem impossible to escape.

Now poverty as we know in Malaysia is not a distant issue. It is part of our daily lives, whether in the bustling cities of Kuala Lumpur or in more remote villages in Sabah and Sarawak. Poverty touches many people and it often strikes unexpectedly. It can happen to anyone through job loss, illness or other unforeseen circumstances.

An experience when I went to Sabah some time ago. A number of families, and I am not exaggerating, at least 3 families where they went to abject poverty because the breadwinner either met an accident, was incapable of working, bedridden or the breadwinner was sick. 

And you have to be there to see how poor they are. And their child, a 15 year old boy, I believe, has to start working to support the family. 

And that is the real situation. It is no fault by anyone but there was an accident or there was a illness or there was a fall. There are numerous circumstances that lead people to go into abject poverty.

And I know of single parents, single mothers especially who are struggling, managing their household with their children and yet trying to find some source of income. And nobody hears their voice.

In a country where there is growing inequality between the urban and rural areas, many families find themselves struggling with the rising cost of living, especially in cities like Kuala Lumpur, here in Penang or even Johor Bahru. There are challenges that we as a community must face together.

The World Day of the Poor is not just a day of reflection. It is a call to action. I am sure you have heard this many times. We have been talking about it. We read about it. 

Pope Francis reminds us that the poor are not merely objects of charity. And this is very important. They are active subjects in God’s plan of salvation. 

Great insights from the Pope’s message for this year. As we look around us, we see many needs whether in our own parishes, our communities or in the broader society. We are called to reflect on how we as a church can respond to these needs.

Pope Francis urges us to look beyond the immediate symptoms of poverty and address the root causes:
i) Systems that perpetuate inequality;
ii) Systems that perpetuate injustice and marginalisation.

In Malaysia, this could mean reaching out to the urban poor or offering support to the marginalised communities in rural areas:-
~ We can help migrant workers by supporting initiatives that provide fair wages, decent living conditions and better healthcare.
~ We can advocate for education and healthcare for refugees.

These actions must be rooted in a deep commitment to justice, justice that ensures all people, regardless of their background or nationality, are treated with dignity and respect.

And if you say how are we going to do this?

Not because I am running Caritas but join the efforts of Caritas. That is the mission given to Caritas in Malaysia by the Conference of Bishops. To do the social mission of the church. All of you should be members of Caritas.

Pope Francis speaks. He speaks. And if you are overwhelmed by what I am saying, here is a way. The Pope Francis speaks of little details of love. A smile, a kind word or a listening ear. We all can do that.

These acts though simple are powerful ways of breaking the silence of indifference. It just takes a spark, as we say, to get a fire going. That is what we need.

In Malaysia, these smallest gestures of kindness can go a long way, especially in a society where many are struggling in silence. 

The Gospel this morning challenges you to live with urgency. Jesus speaks of upheaval and signs in nature as reminders of the fleeting nature of the world. He emphasises the enduring truth of His Words:
Heaven and earth will pass away but My word will never pass away.

This is a call. This is a call to prioritise what truly matters:
Relationships, love, justice, care for the least among us.

In Malaysia where materialism often dominates our values, this Gospel urges us to ask:
~ Are we focused on building treasures in heaven by caring for others?
~ Or are we trapped in the pursuit of worldly success?

Just a bit of caution even for those of us who feel we need to respond to the poor. We need to be rightly motivated, rightly motivated to work with our brothers and sisters who are poor. It is not about personal glory. It is not to lift our ego.

I hear people saying this after they have gone out and done some outreach work: O Father, the people were so touched when we came there. They were so happy to see us.

It is not about ‘us’. It is about ‘THEM‘. It is about them. So it is important to get that right even before we want to do something.

Here and now, we have a unique opportunity to live out our faith through acts of prayer and solidarity. In the words of Saint Teresa of Calcutta. By praying, she says, Jesus puts His love in my heart and I go to give it to all the poor I meet along the way.

Let us be a church that not only prays for the poor but also acts with compassion. 

As we approach the Holy Year, let us become Pilgrims of Hope. And that is the theme for the Jubilee Year. Not just on a journey of personal devotion but on a mission of social transformation.

As we walk this pilgrimage, let us commit ourselves with actions that challenge injustice. Work towards a future where no one is left behind. No one is left behind.

Pope Francis teaches us that hope is not just about waiting passively for things to change. It is about actively engaging in the world, working with others to build a more just society.

Let us make a pilgrimage with the poor and to the poor.

For Jesus said: Whatever you do to the least of my brother or sister, you do it to me.

A pilgrimage we make to the migrant or the refugee community is a sacred pilgrimage. 

A pilgrimage as we visit all the poor that have been documented in this parish. That becomes a holy pilgrimage.

When we reach out to an individual throughout the year and empower that family, empower that individual. A pilgrimage even to the Lighthouse. That pilgrimage, I believe, I think, I would say the kind of pilgrimage is more powerful than our planned pilgrimage to all these churches.

It is sad that there is no plan like that either in the Diocese or many parishes. 

In this context, being Pilgrims of Hope may mean joining hands with other faith communities to advocate for fair wages for migrants, supporting local initiatives that provide education for the children of the poor or being the voice of the voiceless in our local and national communities.

Each of us can make a difference by focusing on the small every day actions of kindness and compassion that reflect God’s love for all our people.

And it is not too late to change our plans. And let this parish lead the way.

May we be Pilgrims of Hope who walk with the poor, advocating for justice and share in the vision of a world transformed by God’s mercy.

Amen.

Click below to listen to homily and watch video:-

Click to live-stream Mass on 17 November 2024