THIS SUNDAY IS the World Day of the Poor. In this time when the world is greatly troubled by the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, its theme, Stretch forth your hand to the poor (Sirach 7: 32) acquires profound meaning.
In Hong Kong, the pandemic has not only put pressure on the public health care system, but has also changed people’s living habits. Everyone talks about preventing the disease. Worse is its devastating effect on the local economy and people’s livelihoods. The airline industry has just experienced its largest number of job cuts in history. In addition, the workforce in the retail and tourism sectors is also facing underemployment or even the threat of job loss.
Walking along the streets, it is not difficult notice the many vacant shop units. Behind the masks are faces etched with worry and self-doubt. At the end of October, a happiness index survey conducted by the Polytechnic University indicated that more than 45 per cent of respondents had depression. Researchers noted a five per cent increase from last year, similar to other places affected by the pandemic, and called it a matter of concern.
Under this gloomy social atmosphere, solidarity and mutual help are good remedies. In his message for the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis points out that when the pandemic swept through the whole world, people from different different walks of life stretched forth their hands to bring help to the needy, and this has brought radiance in the midst of despair. “The outstretched hands of physicians who cared about each patient and tried to find the right cure. The outstretched hands of nurses who worked overtime … The outstretched hands of priests whose hearts broke as they offered a blessing. The outstretched hands of volunteers who helped people living on the streets and those with a home yet nothing to eat … so many other outstretched hands, all of which make up a great litany of good works.”
It is the collective effort of various sectors of society that can resolve poverty issues. What the Church has proposed is a people-oriented solution which cares for those with special needs on the principle of the “preferential option for the poor.”
While the Church is concerned about material poverty, it has also suggests solutions to resolve “relational poverty”—a person who lacks a support network and is unable to break away from the control of poverty.
In interpersonal relationships, families, friends and neighbours can shoulder a certain supportive role. However, thanks to urban development, the digital divide in society and the increase of work-related stress and hours, interpersonal relationships have weakened. Furthermore, during the pandemic, people stay at home and seldom make face-to-face contact, thus leading to loneliness and isolation.
The community life and charity services valued by Christians can help the needy to rebuild interpersonal relationships and break away from poverty.
In the past week, the Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs (HKCCLA) organised a Seven-Day Poverty prayer campaign to help the faithful experience the lives of the poor, reflect on the social and spiritual aspects of poverty from the perspective of faith.
This Sunday afternoon, the HKCCLA will offer a Mass for the World Day of the Poor. At this very moment let us continue to pray to Mary, Mother of the Poor. “And may that prayer enable outstretched hands to become an embrace of shared and rediscovered fraternity” (Message of the World Day of the Poor). SE
