Eliminate destitution through poverty?

Yesterday (2/5), Pope Francis sent out his message for Lent, 2014. I have read it a couple of times and feel challenged and inspired by his thoughts. He challenges ALL persons to do whatever is possible to alleviate physical, moral, and spiritual destitution in our world. The challenge is this: he wants us to do it out of our poverty and not out of our wealth! That is inspiring since most us do not possess great wealth - but all of us can contribute sacrificially from our "poverty". He recommends we do that by imitating Jesus Christ who "though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, so that by his poverty we might become rich" (2Cor 8:9). If you think about it, God could have saved us out of His Divine Wealth but instead he brought us salvation by taking on our nature (becoming poor). Pope Francis says we need to imitate Jesus if our efforts in eliminating destitution are going to be effective. Here is a portion of his message:

In imitation of our Master, we Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it. Destitution is not the same as poverty: destitution is poverty without faith, without support, without hope. There are three types of destitution: material, moral and spiritual. Material destitution is what is normally called poverty, and affects those living in conditions opposed to human dignity: those who lack basic rights and needs such as food, water, hygiene, work and the opportunity to develop and grow culturally. In response to this destitution, the Church offers her help, her diakonia, in meeting these needs and binding these wounds which disfigure the face of humanity. In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ. Our efforts are also directed to ending violations of human dignity, discrimination and abuse in the world, for these are so often the cause of destitution. When power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing.

 I recommend you read the whole thing (about 10 minutes worth) by clicking here.