I am the 1%

Amid all the recent protests around the world against the “1%” I really didn’t pay much attention to the matter. I thought the Occupy Wall Street protest was just a one day thing where a lot of people just needed to vent. However, when I saw that this Occupy Together movement was growing throughout the country and the world it started to grab my attention a little more. While I still don’t think I completely understand the point of these protests I have begun to reflect on a few things related to this movement.

A wise priest once told me that there is only one luggage rack on a hearse. When, God willing, the Lord calls us home to his Heavenly Kingdom we will not be going with any luggage. We will not be able to take our cell phones, computers, iToys, money, jewelry, real estate, or any other material possessions. We will only be taking ourselves. I am mentioning this because this is an important lesson that we all forget. If nothing material in this world is going to last an eternity then why do we need to spend so much money purchasing these items? Why do we need to have hundreds of thousands of dollars saved up when we don’t need a penny of it in Heaven? Of course, parents want to, and should, provide their children with excellent education, and all people should be able to live a healthy lifestyle. However, a healthy lifestyle is the bare essentials.

“…give us this day our daily bread.”

The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is to be treated with dignity and respect. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church the teaching of Christ’s greatest commandment is re-stated as “respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that ‘everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as another self, above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity.’” With that said, all human persons should be working to receive food, shelter, clothing, and health. We are not entitled to these things. We do have to work for them but these are the bare essentials that we should be happy with.

When looking at the Occupy Together movement I first ask myself “why?” Why are all these people gathering to protest the “1%” of people who are extremely wealthy? Especially here in America where our countries dream is to be a business owner and become rich! I think that amid all these ideas of getting “rich” and “having it all” that we lose sight of what it really means to be rich and to have it all. My own family does not have very much money. We almost live from paycheck to paycheck as many families are doing now. My family hasn’t been on a vacation is years, my father is rarely home because of all the extra hours he tries to work, and we don’t have any “fun money” to throw around. However, I still consider my family to be having more, and am richer, than even Bill Gates himself. We have shelter, food, health, and clothing. More importantly we have love, each other, and most importantly, we have our Lord, Jesus Christ. Because my family is able to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every Sunday and praise God for the many blessings in our life that alone makes us richer than any of the 1%. Unfortunately, so many people have lost sight of Christ that is may just be about 1% of people who agree with me. My gift of faith, and the greatest gift of all, the Eucharist, is all I need to sustain me for the rest of my earthly life, and will help me to one day, God willing, be welcomed into the Heavenly Kingdom where, with the Saints, I can praise God forever and ever.

So, in conclusion of this reflection, I think we all need to do less occupying of our cities and Occupy the Eucharist. May the Blessed Mother guide us, St. Michael protect us, and Almighty God Bless us all.