In spite of the misdating of the census of Quirinius in the Gospel of Luke, the Romans did attempt census taking for the purpose of establishing property taxes. However, the results were often incomplete. Population estimates for Jerusalem in the time of Jesus vary from 60,000 to over 100,000. Not very large, it was tightly packed.
Roman soldiers were garrisoned in Fort Antonia, named after Mark Antony by Herod, an imposing large fort with 60 foot walls. In case of civil disturbances, which usually occurred around Passover, the soldiers would pour out to quell the crowds. Scripture often refers to the Jews as being a stiff necked people, which they were because they did not like being occupied by foreign powers. Who does?
On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus would have seen the grinding poverty of the people, a result of Roman occupation and religious leadership collaboration. Although Rome was tolerant of what they considered the aberration of Judaism, people were taxed beyond measure, probably only keeping about 40 percent of what they grew. “Give us this day our daily bread” was a real need, then as well as now for all those who are hungry.
Prayer for the Day
Coming to you, O God, we ask that the hungry be fed,
But we know that we are the source of their sustenance;
Looking to you for answers, O God, for the problems we see,
We know that the answers lie in a new direction for our lives.
Grant, O Lord, that we search for those answers deep within ourselves,
As we consider the kingdom that Jesus calls us to establish.
In the name of the One who came to bring us a new vision of life,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity; it is an act of justice.
- Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
You pray for the hungry, then you feed them. This is how prayer works.
- Pope Francis
If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
Then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
Isaiah 58:10