God bless the poor.
In fact, I don’t even have to ask him: we’ve been told he will;
at least inasmuch as their poverty is primarily one of the spirit.
But we should pray for the poor, of course, and share as we are able. We should care, we ought to avoid partiality and we need to act. Our faith does not amount to much if it does not make us compassionate in a very practical way
toward those in need, and toward those who may have started life at a huge
disadvantage, or have encountered trials and troubles we have never
experienced.
But that guy outside Starbucks who invades your space — the one with the tatty green or brown jacket, bad breath, body odor and uncomfortable social habits — while he may be made in the image of God and deserving of whatever we
are able to do for him for that reason alone …
Sorry, that guy is just not Jesus’ “brother”.