Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Real Poverty

Reading 1

AM 8:4-7

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land!
“When will the new moon be over,” you ask,
“that we may sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?
We will diminish the ephah,
add to the shekel,
and fix our scales for cheating!
We will buy the lowly for silver,
and the poor for a pair of sandals;
even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”
The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
Never will I forget a thing they have done!

Responsorial Psalm

PS 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8

R. (cf. 1a, 7b) Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2

1 TM 2:1-8

Beloved:

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,

petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,

for kings and for all in authority,

that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life

in all devotion and dignity. 

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,

who wills everyone to be saved

and to come to knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus,

who gave himself as ransom for all.

This was the testimony at the proper time. 

For this I was appointed preacher and apostle

— I am speaking the truth, I am not lying —,

teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,

lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

Gospel

LK 16:1-13

Jesus said to his disciples,

“A rich man had a steward

who was reported to him for squandering his property. 

He summoned him and said,

‘What is this I hear about you? 

Prepare a full account of your stewardship,

because you can no longer be my steward.’

The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,

now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? 

I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. 

I know what I shall do so that,

when I am removed from the stewardship,

they may welcome me into their homes.’

He called in his master’s debtors one by one. 

To the first he said,

‘How much do you owe my master?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. 

Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’

Then to another the steward said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’

He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’

The steward said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;

write one for eighty.’

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

“For the children of this world

are more prudent in dealing with their own generation

than are the children of light. 

I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,

so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters

is also trustworthy in great ones;

and the person who is dishonest in very small matters

is also dishonest in great ones. 

If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,

who will trust you with true wealth? 

If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,

who will give you what is yours? 

No servant can serve two masters. 

He will either hate one and love the other,

or be devoted to one and despise the other. 

You cannot serve both God and mammon.”

Theme for reflection:  Real Poverty

In the first reading of today we see the great faithfulness of God towards the poor and the downtrodden.

He warns the rich among the Israelites and those who rule over these poor, here on earth, neither to cheat or swindle them nor to treat them unjustly.

The poor and the poverty of the many are a common problem even in our times and so often we may work out plans to rob and steal the poor by sweet words of treachery.

There are some who are practitioner’s of social justice and work for the emancipation of the poor, the marginalized of society and the downtrodden.

When there are modern day governments, who seem to be extra conscious of the social status of their subject and have socialistic schemes to alleviate the suffering of these poor then why do we require non- NGO’s to strive to work towards the alleviation of the poor?  

Hence, do we  as Catholics really need to work towards these causes?

It is good for us Catholics to work for the emancipation of the poor but we should not forget to understand the right kind of poverty and work according to God’s wisdom to alleviate the sufferings of the poor rather than go by human priorities and standard.

We should, more so, serve because our God cares for his poor?

Who then are these poor whom we are called to serve in the first place and as of first priority?

Let us first understand the contradiction of the first 2 readings: While the first one is a warning and is a reminder of God faithfully watching over his poor on the other hand the second reading seems to worry about the rich and mighty and invites us to pray and intercede for them.

A deeper glance gives us a reason for such prayer and which could be summed up like this: We Christians who are poor by virtue of our following of Christ Jesus (hence not just a material condition) should pray for these rich and the powerful that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.  (1 Tim. 2:2)

Similarly in the gospel we are further exposed to this truth that as Christians our poverty is realized not on account of lack of wealth or possession but that every Christian becomes poor in Christ Jesus on account of the realization of one’s status as a steward of God’s wealth and thus walking accordingly. 

Which means that we as Christians may have plenty of wealth and money and yet all that one has belongs not to them but to God and that we are mere stewards: That is poverty!

Otherwise we could be active in the service of the poor and the marginalized and yet may be rich with possessions and wealth and the greatest of them is the wealth of the many adulations and honor we accumulate and for which the world is willing to honor and reward.

Some additional scripture verses for reflection and use:    

    

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20

LUKE 16: 1-9 (today’s Gospel)

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Cor 4:1

   

As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11 

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Gal 6:10

 

You are not to be Called

Today’s Gospel Text:  Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:1-12

Reflection: “O, please stop calling people father and Rabbi and by other endearing titles, I am sure Jesus never wanted it that way.”  This could be the rant of the many who read this text of the gospel in a literal way. 

Jesus also seems very clear about it by qualifying his injunction with a statement which suggests the primacy of God as Father, master and teacher.

Could Jesus have really meant what is apparently understood of the passage at a preliminary glance?

A close look at the passage, especially at the emphasis it lays, conveys a message otherwise.

If we were to apply this message to Jesus, then it would fail him too and we would then be compelled to not address him as Lord and master, as the apostles continued to do so.

If the concept of brotherhood and learning things only from God was primary, then there would have been no hierarchy in the early church, with the apostles as head of the lot and Simon Peter leading them all.

Then one need not look upon one's parents as elders but as mere brothers and sisters.

In fact St. Paul himself lays claim to the title of fatherhood and in the process reveals something very interesting to us:    

“For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” 1 Cor 4:15

Thus we also learn that the early Christians did just have the Holy Spirit as guide but also had mature humans to guide them in their walk as Christians and it is well acknowledged by St. Paul without passing a judgment about them.

But in all this there is definitely an important message for each one of us who have these titles or seek it; for it is a grave message which cannot be taken lightly:

Those who exercise authority should exercise it in a way wherein they recognize the ultimate authority of God as our true teacher and they are not to teach people according to their whims and fancies or according to what they feel as right and correct but rather as stewards of the holy mysteries.

Prayer:  Lord, may all those who hold offices in the church may realize their stewardship and thus serve your people with responsibility and with a sense of dedication.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Stewardship

Scripture: He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.  Luke 16:1-2

Reflection: Though there may be permanent positions in the world and in the church or we may hold on to positions in a permanent way, yet ultimately there are NO PERMANENT POSITIONS!

Everyone is a steward and is answerable or accountable at the end of the day to the supreme master for what he or she has done.

There could be a situation when we think and it may be even true; we are able to escape our responsibility to be accountable to our immediate masters through hook or crook or may have no one in the immediate position who can bridle us.  But we cannot escape the eventual judgment, for we have to render an account to the one who oversees everything and we who believe know that nothing escapes his attention.

So in the positions you hold in life whether permanent or transient, do not go about life as if you are accountable to no one and that you can play around your immediate master and escape being caught; for there is an eventual eternity. 

Prayer:  May your Holy Spirit keep alive in me the spark that can forbid me to be corrupt.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us