The book of Isaiah called upon God's people to spend themselves for the poor. This is simply an extension of that. Giving to those who have need is an act of devotion to Jesus. We are reminded that what we do to the least of his sisters and brothers, we do to him. We are not healthy if we do not give.
People keep living a generosity born of love as they waste themselves for others.
Listen to a few stories from our time. He was a fairly traditional church leader. In fact, he was viewed as being very safe by the powers of the oppressive government and the rich of a nation which counted on the church to side with the powerful. When Oscar Romero became Archbishop of El Salvador, the suggestion that his linkage with the poor and oppressed would bring about the wrath of the rich and the powerful and their military allies would have been seen as ludicrous. Romero was quiet, a bit shy, and never seen to be a boat rocker.