Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
On my visit to India in August, I witnessed something that disturbed me for days and does even today. I was driving my nephew to pre-school one morning. The school is nearby, and we take a little ride there on our scooter. There is only one way to describe traffic in India – organized chaos. To make it worse, I was in peak time traffic. Everybody was in a hurry, everybody was honking, and nobody cared even a little about anything. At a crossroad, among the pedestrians, was a blind man using his cane to navigate the cross. There were probably 20 people crossing the street with him. This man was crying something out loud so people can hear him and be careful. A car on my left side slowed down but did not stop, and almost hit the blind man. His cane came under the wheels. I was outraged. I caught up with the car and stared at the driver. Well, it happened be our next-door neighbor. He works as an executive in a company, lives in a luxury duplex, drives a car, but he could care less. What is more shocking is that the entrance to his house is lined with religious symbols. But for him, this poor blind man did not mean more than the pebbles on the street. I had decided to stop by his house in the evening and express my outrage. My niece stopped me, and for the sake neighborhood politics and peace, I let it go. She has to live there but I get to leave. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am with myself.
When today’s first reading begins with, “Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land” (Amos 8:4), God saying something. The parable of the dishonest steward in today’s gospel (Lk 16:1-13) is saying something. In the parable when the master commended the dishonest steward for his prudence, Jesus is saying something. Jesus’ teaching, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk 16:13), is saying something. What might they be saying? I think it is saying three things.
God Speaks for the Poor
Religion is more than about prayer and worship. God gave Moses Ten Commandments. If faith was only about prayer and worship, then only the first three commandments would be needed. Judeo-Christian faith is about prayer and worship, but integral to prayer and worship is relationship with neighbors, with aliens, with Creation, creatures and even the land. We are in the Jubilee Year. The biblical concept of the Jubilee year was particularly meant to give the poor, the landless, the slaves, the animals, and the land rest and rejuvenation. It gave everybody a new beginning. Hence, we should not be surprised when we hear God say, “Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land,” and again, “Never will I forget a thing they have done!” (Amos 8:4,7). God has something to say about how the poor and the marginalized are treated.
Jesus, the Gospels, and Catholicism has a special concern for poor and the marginalized of society. Jesus calls the poor, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and the peacemakers “blessed.” In other words, religion that does care for the marginalized is empty ritual.
Contemporary Catholic Statements
Within the last two week, on the global, national, and local archdiocesan level, the Catholic Church made significant statements on this theme. The statement I am sharing are very selective, but this is because they have to do with the theme of today’s scripture readings.
First, Pope Leo XIV has given his first interview. The interview covers various topics. On the theme that is relevant for us today, he says, “I think very significant is the continuously wider gap between the income levels of the working class and the money that the wealthiest receive. For example, CEOs that 60 years ago might have been making four to six times more than what the workers are receiving, the last figure I saw, it’s 600 times more than what average workers are receiving. Yesterday the news that Elon Musk is going to be the first trillionaire in the world. What does that mean and what’s that about? If that is the only thing that has value anymore, then we’re in big trouble.”
Second, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has elevated the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism into a permanent Subcommittee. Reiterating Catholic teaching that “racism a sin”, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the president of the USCCB said: “As we call for a genuine conversion of heart that will compel change at both individual and institutional levels, I invite all Catholics to join us as we carry forward this work to recognize and uphold the inherent dignity of every person made in the image and likeness of God.”
Third, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Ohio led by our own Archbishop Casey have addressed a letter to the immigrants in Ohio. They say: “Please know of our spiritual closeness to you and your pastors as they accompany you in navigating uncertainty. May our parishes continue to be a refuge from your sorrows, where the faithful welcome you in your time of need. Hold onto the peace of the risen Christ and let us all bear witness to the unity and reconciliation found in the Gospel, remembering that we are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).”=
In other words, the Church will always stand by the poor and the marginalized. Those who don’t like the Church’s position will point out to the child abuse crisis and say that the Church should clean up its own house first. Yes, it is true but that does not mean that the Church will abandon the gospel and refuse to be the voice of the marginalized in society.
The Children of this World v/s The Children of the Light
The parable of the dishonest steward end with the master commending the dishonest steward for his prudence. Jesus’ commentary on the parable was, "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light” (Lk 16:8). There are people who are good coopting religion for their own gain.
For example, Evangelical Christianity led by millionaire tele-evangelists propagate what is called the “Prosperity Gospel” or the “Gospel of Health and Wealth.” It proposes that Jesus's atonement not only covers sin but also sickness and poverty, which are seen as curses that can be broken through faith.” Sound reasonable but all it was doing was coopting religion to promote a Free Market Economy. As Jesus says, “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”
Even more relevant today is Christian Nationalism. As a result, the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is coopted by political ideologies for wielding power. The fusion or religion and politics is a dangerous combination. But as Jesus says, “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”
In the parable, Jesus is teaching us that as children of the light, we have to be wise; that as followers of Jesus Christ we must be as prudent about the gospel as are the children of the world about their worldly goals.
What is the takeaway from today’s scripture readings? God has something to say about the poor and how the marginalized are treated in society. If we trample upon the needy and destroy the poor in the land; if we do not care about the marginalized in our midst, then God says, “Never will I forget a thing you have done!” True religion is about genuine love of God, and genuine love of God includes speaking up and taking a stance in favor of the marginalized. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk 16:13).
- Fr. Satish Joseph