JORAS - Nigerian Journal of Religion and Society

This paper evaluates the liturgico-theological response to poverty associated especially with Africa. Although, from time immemorial, poverty is degrading to humanity, since the affected individuals barely access the basic necessities for use on daily basis. Also poverty robs people opportunity to fully participate in the liturgical life of the Church since a hungry man/woman is an angry man/woman. This also leads to anti- social behaviour which is against one of the characteristics of liturgy as a communitarian participation. The biblical insights and writings of Patristic Era revolve around the understanding that those who are poor and defenceless have nobody to turn to but God who has a special place for them. The implication is that the basic duty on earth to the poor emerges for the faithful since God created everything good for everybody, rich and poor alike (Gen 1:31). In this way, a redistribution of wealth will improve the standard of living. Through descriptive and analytical methods, this paper addresses liturgico-theological response which will arm the worshippers to alleviate and reduce poverty in their various communities. Option for the poor commits one to justice and to take up the cause of the poor in our midst. This is in imitation of Jesus Christ who ful?lled the biblical injunction to be in solidarity with the poor, the needy and the hungry, including the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19).

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