The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to meditate on the action we need to take to address the inequality in our society that may be routed in our present and past pursuit of personal wealth and privilege.
Inequality and justice
The reading from the Prophet Ezekiel is a proclamation against the King of Tyre.
* [28:1–10] Ezekiel mocks the arrogance of Tyre’s leader, who mistakes the city’s commercial success for evidence of his divinity. At the hands of a foreign army, commissioned by the only God worthy of the name, this leader dies a humiliating, unceremonious death.1
Deuteronomy 32 declares that indeed the Lord will vindicate his people.
* [32:1–43] The whole song is a poetic sermon, having for its theme the Lord’s benefits to Israel (vv. 1–14) and Israel’s ingratitude and idolatry in turning to the gods of the nations; these sins will be punished by the nations themselves (vv. 15–29); in turn, the foolish pride of the nations will be punished, and the Lord’s honor will be vindicated (vv. 30–43).2
The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that many who are first will be last, and the last will be first
* [19:23–24] Riches are an obstacle to entering the kingdom that cannot be overcome by human power. The comparison with the impossibility of a camel’s passing through the eye of a needle should not be mitigated by such suppositions as that the eye of a needle means a low or narrow gate. The kingdom of God: as in Mt 12:28; 21:31, 43 instead of Matthew’s usual kingdom of heaven.3
Eileen Wirth finds an invitation to redeem ourselves by using some of our extra resources to respond to the dire needs in every community in the texts today.
Jesus won’t judge me because I got an education, worked hard, lived frugally and accumulated retirement savings. But he WILL judge me for seeing cars lined up outside the food bank and doing nothing to help feed the hungry. He WILL judge me for seeing families being evicted and doing nothing help the homeless shelters.
This has nothing to do with politics. It’s an invitation to save ourselves by helping others. We’re the camel. This is our “eye of the needle” and we can pass through it.4
Don Schwager quotes “Who can enter the kingdom of heaven?” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.
"What then did Christ say? 'How difficult it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.' He was not criticizing money itself but the wills of those who are taken captive by it. If it will be difficult for the rich, how much more so for the avaricious! For if stinginess with one's own wealth is an impediment to gaining the kingdom, think how much fire is amassed for taking someone else's. But why does he say that it is hard for the rich man to enter the kingdom, to the disciples, who were poor and had nothing? He teaches them not to be ashamed of their poverty and, as it were, gives the reason why he did not allow them to possess anything. After saying it is hard, he also shows them that it is impossible, and not simply impossible but even in an exaggerated way impossible. He shows this from the comparison of the camel and the needle: 'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' Hence Christ demonstrates that there is a significant reward for the wealthy who can practice self-denial. He also said that this had to be the work of God, that he might show that great grace is needed for anyone who is going to achieve it." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 63.2)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Ezekiel 28:1-10 comments that before we condemn Tyre ourselves, we should admit how easy it is for all of us to fall into a similar trap. For example, maybe we believe that somehow we deserve the gifts and blessings we have because we worked hard for them and fail to see that they come from the Lord.
We can try to love and serve other people the way Jesus loved and served us—through laying down our lives for one another. That takes the focus off ourselves and onto the person in front of us. This kind of self-forgetfulness and self-giving is the first step in growing in humility. Another step is to realize that all that we are and have are gifts from our gracious Lord. Though we may have worked hard, it was only through God’s goodness and grace that we were able to accomplish what we have.6
Friar Jude Winkler speaks about the readings for today.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author Austin Channing Brown, who teaches on issues of racial justice. She was raised in a devoutly Christian home and has worked in and with churches for most of her professional life. Fr. Richard hopes we can read her words with the openness they deserve.
And when we talk about race today, with all the pain packed into that conversation, the Holy Spirit remains in the room. This doesn’t mean the conversations aren’t painful, aren’t personal, aren’t charged with emotion. But it does mean we can survive. We can survive honest discussions about slavery, about convict leasing, about stolen land, deportation, discrimination, and exclusion. We can identify the harmful politics of gerrymandering, voter suppression, criminal justice laws, and policies that disproportionately affect people of color negatively. And we can expose the actions of white institutions—the history of segregation and white flight, the real impact of all-white leadership, the racial disparity in wages, and opportunities for advancement. We can lament and mourn. We can be livid and enraged. We can be honest. We can tell the truth. We can trust that the Holy Spirit is here. We must.7
The action we are called to involves putting people before possessions.
References
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