“Whose Reality Counts?” was the theme for today’s intensive session. We looked at the issues around reading the bible responsibly in an economically divided world. When we westerners read the bible, we read the stories, teachings and parables from a position of power – education, wealth, respect, voice etc. – but the vast, vast majority of scripture was written from a position of weakness – the persecuted ones. If we could walk a mile in the shoes of the poor, and then read the scriptures – what sort of difference would that make??

We did an exercise where we heard an interpretation of the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler (Mathew 19:16-30) as written by the late Pope John Paul II, and then we heard a bible study on the same text from Amawotti Community, of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa from 1988. One who interpreted from a position of total power and wealth, and another who read the text from a position of poverty, and oppression. The differences were surprising.

Q. Have you noticed how often Jesus spoke to the poor??
How often do we do that??

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