QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Brothers and sisters:You know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and daywe worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you,we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,neither should that one eat.We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in adisorderly way,by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food. (2 Thes 3:7-12)

Paul's words to the Thessalonians are tough: if you wnat to eat, you must work! How does this translate into our society today? How do you reconcile this with Jesus' command to love and feed the poor?