As fitting and urgent as the church’s so-called “preferential option of the poor” is, it is equally important to remember that this does not mean a simultaneous “preferential option against the rich.” Today’s account of Jesus’ call of a wealthy tax collector, Matthew, is not an isolated incident. And so, for example, he purposely sought out Zacchaeus another wealthy tax collector; and even though a certain young rich man could not accept Christ’s challenge to divest himself of his wealth, Jesus still looked at him with love, as he departed sad and disheartened. These examples should serve to remind us that none of us deserves God’s love and salvation more than someone else—we are all the blessed beneficiaries of God’s unmerited and undeserved love. In addition, although wealth and power can (and does) risk separating persons from God and his love, so does extreme poverty and powerlessness risk fomenting bitterness, hatred of the rich, and a relentless quest to escape poverty and gain wealth. All of this should be a simple but important reminder that when it comes to God’s love and his saving grace, we are all miserably poor beggars—regardless of whether we are rich or poor.