25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

1st Reading              Amos 8:4-7

Psalm                         113:1-2,4-6,7-8 (R. see 1a, 7a)

2nd Reading            1 Timothy 2:1-8

Gospel                        Luke 16: 1-13

WEALTH WITHOUT WORSHIP DESTROYS JUSTICE

Peace and Goodness! Today, the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), our first reading is from Amos 8:4-7 and the Gospel is from Luke 16:1-13. We shall give particular attention to the first reading.

The personality of Amos will make a good foundational start. Prior to being called to be a Prophet,  Amos was a shepherd and a dresser of Sycamores (Amos 7:4). What becomes clear is that his prime occupational language will feature prominently in his speech and in the book. Noticeably, he spoke within his understanding of agriculture and livestock rearing. In that vein, going back a little to Amos 8:1,  we read of Amos having a vision of first basket and the end. He had a vision of SUMMER FRUIT which points to the END. I think there is a wordplay by the author. In Hebrew, "Summer fruit", per the text, is QAYITS, while END is QETS. There is linguistic art at play. However, the reason for the END is that there is social and cultic corruption. 

The first reading is situated within this context of social injustice. Particularly, it deals with the question of wealth and our relationship with it. This is supported by the fact that Amos is writing in a time around the mid-C18th BC, an age of relative prosperity under Jeroboam II. Wealth is a reality at this time. Wealth in itself is not bad. It is the way that it is used that makes it bad or not. The text of the first reading suggest to be talking to the Wealthy elites. I suggest we consider 3 attitudes associated with the condition of abundance of wealth and what can erupt as a danger to look out for. 

The first detail is that while there is an abundance of wealth, some show no genuine interest in worship. They see the worship of God as interruptions to their trade. The passage mentions that some individuals yearn for the quick end of the NEW MOON and the SABBATH so that they can sell their produce. NEW MOON is the first day of the lunar month in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of religious observance (Num. 28:11-15; Isa. 1:13). Trade and work are to cease. The focus should be God and God alone. Additionally, the SABBATH is a highly regarded religious day. However, these individuals want these days to end quickly so they can focus on business. The issue is that while wealth is in abundance, some neglect God. That is a danger we need to guard against. When worship is despised, morality and all other forms of human balances are destroyed. 

The second detail is that they "make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances". An ’ēphāh  (אֵיפָה,) is an ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure used to measure grain, flour, and other dry goods. Together with Shekel, they make up for the standard measures in Israel's economic system. What is happening is basically that the price of goods is increased. A little quantity is purchased at a higher price. Amos, therefore, unmasks the distortion of the economic system. Merchants deliberately tamper with weighing scales, inflate prices, and manipulate market to their advantage. The second danger to guard against is the use of economic power to make the economic system difficult for others to survive. 

The third detail is that these people, the wealthy elites, "sell the refuse of the wheat". What is worthless and should ordinarily not be sold is even sold. The situation of exploitation and excessive competition becomes so high that there is no remembrance of the poor. The poor become the primary victims of this corruption. The vulnerable, who should be protected, are instead pushed deeper into poverty and humiliation. The issue is that while wealth is increasing, social relations are deteriorating. There is no real concern for the neighbour. 

The crux of this is that while wealth is increasing, never despise the worship of God. Take your time to worship him duly. Do not be excessively into tightening the economic system to make life unbearable for others. Also, pay attention to others, your neighbours.

Those addressed in the first reading have incurred the wrath of God. The text says, "The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: 'Surely I will never forget any of their deeds'" (Amos 8:7). They have incurred divine memory. The exploitation of the poor will not slip past God's sight. The Lord swears by the PRIDE OF JACOB. We find such expression in Psalm 46 but expressed positively. Here in Amos 8, the Pride of Jacob is the glory of Jacob. Jacob is Israel. The Glory of Israel is God Himself. Therefore, the Pride of Jacob is God Himself. God will never forget. He will surely vindicate the poor and visit the wicked, the oppressors with his wrath. 

The Gospel, Luke 16:1-13, leaves us to question whether the wealthy elites of the first reading are as shrewd as the dishonest Steward in the Gospel. The master did not praise the dishonesty of the servant; he praised the wisdom, the shrewdness, of the dishonest servant.

In the final analysis, wealth and power ought to promote the freedom of others, especially those who cannot afford, thus the poor. Wealth is supposed to support life and relief burdens. 

Pax et Bonum