Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I am compelled to begin this homily with the very first words from today’s first reading from Isaiah:
“Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn…” (Is 58:7).
Sitting off St. Peter's Square next to the Vatican, is a beautiful 19th century palace. The location is also popular with tourists who pay hundreds of dollars to stay close to it. Because of its prime location, it has the potential to command top dollars if it were to be converted into a hotel. But Pope Francis had other ideas. He has converted it into a homeless shelter. Brezza is a resident at this shelter. Recently, his leg was amputated. He lives on a $300 monthly disability allowance. He is among 50 or so homeless men and women who now sleep in the palace’s 16 bedrooms.
As we contemplate the ancient words of Isaiah and the prophetic action of Pope Francis, what might the scriptures be saying to us today? Here are my three points for reflection.
- The Poor in the Biblical Tradition. What does God have to do with the hungry, the homeless, the naked, and the afflicted? In a homily of this length, it is impossible to answer this question comprehensively. A basic survey tells us that Biblical tradition revolves around the poor. Perhaps, our starting point should be the Exodus story. It is the key to understanding God’s relationship with the poor. God acted in favor of the oppressed Hebrew slaves. Especially since the Hebrew people knew poverty, homelessness, nakedness, and affliction, the Mosaic tradition was especially sensitive to the needs of the poor. In the Promised Land, the poor had the right to glean the fields (Lev 19:9-10). In the sabbatical year they were to have their share of the produce of the fields and the vineyards (Ex 23:11; Lev 25:6). In the jubilee year they recovered their property (Lev 25:25-30). In the sabbatical and jubilee years the bond-servant was to go free (Deut 15:12-15; Lev 25:39-42). The rich were to be generous to the poor (Deut 15:7-11). Certain portions from the tithes were assigned to the poor (Deut 14:28-29; Deut 26:12-13). The poor shared in the national and religious feasts (Deut 16:11,14; Neh 8:10). As the Psalmist would say, “The Lord hears the cry of the poor!” (Ps 34:7). Besides the Mosaic tradition, the Old Testament prophets have striking things to say about the poor. Today’s reading from Isaiah is a prime example of God’s care for the poor. “If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (Is 58;7). In the gospels, not only did Jesus care about the poor, the lepers, the lame, the blind, the widowed, but he also warned his disciples of the dangers of wealth. To answer the question I began with – in the Biblical tradition, the poor are central to story of salvation.
- The Counter-Cultural Christian Social Narrative. Every society has a social narrative. In other words, it is about how human social existence is narrated today. Whereas the narrative is important, perhaps the more crucial aspect is how the narrative gets written. Who writes the narrative? Almost always, the social narrative is dictated by the rich and the powerful. Our political leaders, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg – these people create, influence, and dominate the social narrative. The recent SCOTUS “Public Charge” decision makes it possible for our nation to turn away legal immigrants who might need financial support. Poor people do not make headlines. Scores of them live in misery and poverty. Millions of them die each day simply because they could not afford life. Their stories hardly influence the social narrative! But there is a counter-narrative – the Gospel narrative! Who dominates the gospel narrative? The blind, the lame, the hungry, the lepers, the sinners, those on the fringes of society. Those who were outcast by the rich and the powerful are the heroes in the gospels. In fact, Jesus himself was poor and outcast! Pope Francis is rewriting the social and ecclesial narrative today. A Vatican palace which could be turned into a hotel to rake in money is being transformed into a homeless shelter. As the gospel reading invites us the salt of the earth and the light of the world, I believe Pope Francis is showing us the way. I hope the Church in the United States is noticing. I hope you and I are noticing.
- The Poor and Salvation. The most critical reality of the biblical teaching on the poor is that it creates a direct link between Israel’s care for the poor and its own well-being. As Isaiah reminds the Israelites, if they care for the hungry, the naked, and the homeless, “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!” (Is 58:9-10). In other words, for light to shine, for gloom and darkness to be dispelled, Israel must care for the poor. In the Gospels this link is even stronger. Salvation itself is linked to our care of the poor. Remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the miserable beggar, who lay at his gates? Lazarus entered eternity but the rich man was denied heaven because of his neglect of the poor (Lk 16:19-31). At the last judgement, it will be ones who cared for the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the homeless and in prison who will invited into the kingdom. The rest will lose out on salvation (Mt 25:31-54).Whether we welcome immigrants or not, whether we take care of the poor or not, whether we feed the hungry of the world or not are issues that have direct impact on our salvation. The choice is up to us.
Today's scriptures are inviting us to be a selfless people. In reality, it is an invitation to be like Christ on this altar. He became poor so that by his poverty, we can be saved. As we receive Christ, may we become for one another who Christ is to us! Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph