Personal Reflections of a Middle-Aged Man

Here is what Jesus said about the poor, the sick, and the needy:

• Luke 6:20-21: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.”
• Luke 14:13-14: “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed…”
• Mark 10:21: “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor… then come, follow me.”
• Mark 12:43-44: “This poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing… she out of her poverty has put in everything she had.”
• Matthew 25:35-36: “I was… sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
• Matthew 25:40: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me.”
• Matthew 25:34-36: “I was hungry and you gave me food… I was a stranger and you welcomed me… I was naked and you gave me clothing…

Here are some Republican themes and statements about helping the poor, the sick, and the needy:

• Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ): “Told to his New Jersey constituents hit by rising gas taxes,“Keep breaking your back and working hard, maybe get yet another job.””
• Sen. Tommy Tuberville (AL): Stated “…ending [ACA] subsidies would raise premiums for his own constituents.”
• Rep. Garret Graves (LA): “When workers complained about extreme heat at industrial sites, Graves reportedly replied, “Go get a different job.””
• Pres. Trump: “It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things. We have to take care of one thing: military protection.”
• Republican‑led Senate bill implications for the poorest: “Low‑income families should adapt because the tax cuts mainly help the economy and the wealthy.”
• GOP dismissal of inflation‑related hardship: “Paraphrased view (from GOP‑aligned lawmakers): “Inflation is regrettable, but it’s part of a strong economy; we can’t keep spending money on entitlements [Medicaid, Medicare, etc.]…”
• Defense of massive health‑care and food‑assistance cuts as “necessary:” “Paraphrased GOP‑policy framing: “We must cut Medicaid and SNAP so we can fund tax cuts and national‑security priorities. Some people will lose benefits…”
• Sen. Joni Ernst (IA): “In response to constituents’ concerns over Medicaid cuts, Ernst said, “We all are going to die.””

Happy Easter…