Mary’s Message of Hope for the Poor
Dr. Jim Riley
Luke 1:51-53
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
These powerful words shockingly came from a poor, powerless woman. Mary saw the Messiah as the One who would bring the great reversal – the arrogant powerful are dispersed and brought down; the lowly are lifted up and blessed by the Messiah.
We learn from Mary that a key role of the Messiah’s mission is to care for the lowly and hungry. Jesus came to earth to bring God’s love to all those who were in need. They were the ones who received him, while the rich and powerful were the ones who rejected him.
It therefore follows that those who follow the Messiah will follow in his mission to the poor. The early Christians truly did this. The Apostles made it their priority to care for the poor. One of their first items on their effort to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ was to create the ministry of the Deacons who would care for the poor.
Circle City Dinner Church seeks to fulfill the mission that Jesus Christ has set before us to care for those around us in our city that are living in poverty and lacking basic needs. The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to fill the mouths of the hungry with food as well their hearts with God’s love.