Pope Francis reflects on Psalm 34:7, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him.”
He challenges us to use the World Day of the Poor as an opportunity to make an examination of conscience and consider whether we truly do hear the cry of the poor.
Prayer for the 2nd World Day of the Poor (from www.crs.org)
Loving God,
You hear the cry of each of your children, and especially those who are poor and suffering.
We pray that we too might hear the cries of people in need:
The family crying out for food …
The migrant child crying out for his mother …
The youth crying out for education …
The farmer crying out for rains for his harvest ….
The trafficked and abused, crying out for freedom …
All of who are poor and vulnerable, crying out for help …
Lord, open our hearts that we may hear the cries of the poor as you do
and respond as your hands and feet on earth.
In your name we pray,
Amen