Just a thought-full day :)

The Hermeneutical Privilege of the Poor

When people with no land
Read about a people with no land
Being promised land,
They understand something
Which escapes us,
Who have no need of land.

When people seeking land reform
Read about the Jubilee Year,
When fathers and mothers
Whose children have been murdered by government troops,
Read about the slaughter of the innocents,
When the poor who are despised,
Read of a Jesus criticized
For associating with outcasts,
When lepers read about lepers,
When the materially poor,
Read: "Blessed are you poor,"
When a community threatened by torture,
Reflects on the scourging and crowing of Jesus,
When workers struggling to establish co-ops,
Read about "sharing all things in common,"
When campesinos threatened by death squads,
Read about the crucifixion,
   or about the thousands (in Revelation)
   whose garments have been soaked in blood,

Again, they understand something
Quite different than we
Who are housed,
Landed,
Physically secure,
Honored,
Unlepered,
Prosperous,
And for whom
Torture and execution must be "spiritualized"
To have meaning.

-Professor Mike from LASP