In the quiet corners of history, where the whispers of the oppressed echo through time, there lies a profound truth. A version of Christianity that tramples the poor and marginalized in favor of the rich and powerful is a religion completely at odds with the teachings of Jesus. For in the heart of the Nazarene’s message, there beats a rhythm of compassion, a melody of justice, and a symphony of love for the least among us.

Jesus, the humble carpenter from Nazareth, walked among the downtrodden, the outcasts, and the forgotten. His hands, calloused from labor, reached out to heal the sick, to feed the hungry, and to comfort the weary. His words, spoken with the authority of divine love, challenged the powerful and uplifted the meek. He spoke of a kingdom where the last would be first, where the peacemakers would be called children of God, and where the merciful would receive mercy.

Yet, in the corridors of power, where wealth and influence reign supreme, there exists a distortion of this sacred faith. It is a version that cloaks itself in piety while turning a blind eye to the suffering of the vulnerable. It is a version that builds grand cathedrals but neglects the homeless who sleep in their shadows. It is a version that preaches prosperity for the few while ignoring the cries of the many.

This version of Christianity, with its gilded altars and hollow promises, stands in stark contrast to the teachings of Jesus. For he did not come to exalt the powerful but to lift up the lowly. He did not come to amass wealth but to give of himself freely. He did not come to serve the interests of the elite but to serve the needs of all humanity.

In the end, the true essence of Christianity is found not in the halls of power but in the humble acts of love and service. It is found in the embrace of the outcast, the feeding of the hungry, and the healing of the brokenhearted. It is a faith that calls us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, to be a light in the darkness, and to be a voice for the voiceless.

For in the eyes of the Divine, the measure of our faith is not in our wealth or status but in our love for one another. And it is in this love that we find the true meaning of Christianity, a faith that stands with the poor and marginalized, just as Jesus did. 😔

©️ Beatriz Esmer