My sisters and brothers,
do not
in favouring others
hold the faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ, (Lord) of glory,
for if someone comes
into your gathering,
wearing gold rings
clothed in finery
and also a poor person
clothed in rags
and if you all notice
the one clothed in finery
and say:
‘You, sit (here) in a good place’.
and to the poor person
you say
‘You, stand here
or sit beneath my feet.’
have you not become divided in yourselves,
and have you not become judges
who deliver evil verdicts?
Listen, my beloved sisters and brothers,
has not God did not chosen
the poor in the world
(to be) rich in faith
and heirs of the kingdom
which is promised to those who love him.?
But you have dishonoured the poor
not the rich,
they oppress you all
and themselves drag you into the courts.
Do they not blaspheme
the good name
of the one
that was ‘named’ over you?
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)