With rising oil prices and spiraling inflation, people are starting to fill the pinch, even beggars. In Bangladesh, a group of beggars are lobbying the local politicians to set a minimum rate that they can receive from people because they are grappling with rising cost of living. The group of beggars, most of whom are disabled, also asked the local council to ban beggars outside the town from encroaching their territory. “They say the soaring cost of food is taking its toll. Their daily collection is not enough to buy adequate food for their families,” said an official.

“You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me,” (John 12:8) said Jesus as he defended Mary’s action of pouring down an expensive perfume on his feet. In fact, while Judas Iscariot objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor” (John 12:5)? He didn’t say this care about the poor but to show his greed for money according to the apostle John’s statement.

How do we care about the poor? By just giving them alms or sharing with them the love of Jesus as well.