- Parables -

Poverty & Fasting

or

Being in Love 

[4]

Riza asked his grandfather: ‘Why is it that the Church is not poor, and Catholic people hardly ever fast?’ 

Grandfather said: ‘My son, my answer would be too simple if I were to say it is because the Church doesn’t love any more. You might ask yourself what love has to do with poverty and fasting. To illustrate I will tell you another story: 

Once upon the time in the Land of our Ancestors, people were poor but happy. In this happy country in a small village, surrounded by mountains and rice fields, there lived a very poor family - a mother, a father and a young girl. They were humble, simple country people. They lived with very little, one meal per day. But rarely they were sick and enjoyed life to the full. The daughter’s name was Amore and she was very beautiful. 

One day at the well, Amore met a man, Emmanuel. They talked about many things, and Amore fell in love with him there and then. From that day Emmanuel and Amore promised each other everlasting love. 

Three years later they married, but on the very day of their wedding, Emmanuel was murdered. Amore was broken-hearted. She never married again for, to be true to her name, she wanted to give her heart to nobody but Emmanuel. 

The seasons came and went. And eventually Amore’s parents died, too. Strange people from other countries arrived in the Land of the Ancestors. This people brought with them prosperity and a different way of life. 

In no time Amore changed her life to better fit in this new society and she became rich, affluent and very fat indeed, for the days of want were past and never to be remembered. However, happiness and joy of life were gone, too. Sometimes some of old Amore’s friends would say to her, “You are rich now, but are you happy?” 

‘Well, yes. But…” was her reply. 

“Why have you changed so much Amore? What happened to your body - your are so fat and big?” they would persist questioning her. 

“To tell the truth, I am hungry all the time.” was her answer. 

Riza said to his grandfather: “I understand now why we surround ourselves with possessions, and we always worry about food, clothing and things. We have lost our Love for God and for his Son Jesus Christ. 

Love is a life-sustaining spiritual and emotional energy. When it is missing, unconsciously we replace it with material things, like food for the stomach, nice clothes, flash houses and possessions, which make you feel important, and make you say “I am.” 

Grandfather said: “Yes indeed. And remember, son, that poverty too says, ‘I am,’ but with a different attitude. A person who is spiritually poor by choice would say, “I am poor,” with no shame, while one who is poor, but not by choice [without Love] says, “I am poor,” if, not with real shame, at least with some regret. 

Nadir Martello

Contact: nadir@sheddinglight.info

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