The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me. (John 12:8)

Like me, I suppose, you have probably wondered about the popularity of such TV shows as "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," "Dallas," and "Dynasty." It would seem that our value systems have become much too materialistic. One wonders if any really serious attempts are being made to close the gap between the rich and the poor. It has been observed that even "socialists" who seem to be interested in the welfare of poor people do not really so much love the poor; it is, rather, that they hate the rich!

Our story here is from John rather than Luke. When John's Gospel shows us Jesus telling his disciples "the poor you always have with you," are we seeing a Jesus who is less sympathetic to the poor and oppressed than th…