About This Project

The Anawim are the lost and the forgotten ones whom Jesus makes reference to in his Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom in Heaven,” and “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt 5: 3.5).   This is a lovely reflection; God loves everyone even the poorest of the poor.

The Anawim are God’s Remnant of those faithful who find their treasures in God’s Kingdom. Anawim actually includes all the people of God, whether rich or poor, living in palaces or in the streets, healthy or ill. We will see how the Anawim of the gospel trusted in the promise of God: “I will be with you always” (Matt 28:20). We will also see how the Anawim, through suffering and anguish, remained faithful to God by prayer and sacrifice.

The first chapter will guide us to follow the Anawim’s historical development by appreciating the significance of the Poor of Jahweh. Jesus’ choice of followers in the early church was that of poor people of no reputation. Linked with this is the fact that God has deep compassion for those who suffer. The Messiah’s life was full of doing things for those who suffer. Those who have followed him since then have found God’s blessing on them as they too cared for the suffering.

Not only does God respect little people and has compassion for the sufferers, but He has what has been called a ‘bias of the poor’. God takes notice of the poor, those who are oppressed by others, those of little power and who are taken advantage of because of their lack of power. His ear is ever open to their cry for help.

We will, therefore, analyse how the ‘Anawim’ took God’s wish seriously, and as people of God, adopted to themselves the same attitude namely that of ‘bias to the poor’.

In the second chapter, we will examine how, according to the Gospel of Matthew, the Anawim’s mission to acknowledge the great and gracious will of God is accomplished. Matthew indicates that only the devout poor Anawim, of whatever social rank, recognize their complete dependence on God. Matthew therefore brings forward the conclusion that we are not to bother about tomorrow because God cares for us (Matt 8:20).

In the third chapter we will pass on to analyse the importance Luke gives to the poor people. We will probe this issue by examining the parables and the experiences which confirm the spirit of the ‘Anawim’. In turn, this will help us to understand one of Luke’s main themes, namely the reversal of fortunes.

In the fourth chapter we will present the figure of John the Baptist as the person who announced and prepared the world for the arrival of Jesus Christ. We will see how John’s parents represent the Anawim’s main characteristic, namely the fact that were guided by God, even though they knew that for them to have a much-desired child at their age was impossible. John can also be considered as one of the Anawim because he was poor and he lived waiting in great faith for God’s arrival, which meant salvation.

In the fifth chapter we will meet Mary, Jesus’ mother and try to see how she succumbed to God’s will, even though she was afraid yet she managed to fulfil God’s mission because she had His Grace. In doing so, we will also try to see how Mary’s goodwill radiates the spirituality of the Anawim. Like Mary, each one of these Anawim is capable of doing anything through the strength of God.

In the sixth chapter, we will present other Biblical figures who cared for baby Jesus.   The first people who kept watch on this king were shepherds, the poorest of the poor. Other people, like the three kings, Simeon, and Anna resemble or reveal the characteristic aspects of an Anawim’s life.

In the seventh chapter, we will illustrate how certain episodes, show us that Jesus is the true Son of God who recognised his dependence on God. This dependence is one of the main attitudes of a true Anawim.

In the eight chapter, we will conclude by showing what it means to be “blessed”. In doing so we hope to demonstrate that the Anawim are the starkest demonstrations of Jesus’ choice of followers. Most of the disciples of the early church were also poor and of no reputation, and thus they can truly be referred to as the Anawim