There are some aspects of human society that have not changed much in the past 3000 years.
When we are upset about retailers who cheat primary producers and mispackage or mislabel food, when we hear Bob Katter taking up the cause of farmers versus the big supermarket chains, Amos is the prophet we can quote today.
We have seen our politicians struggle with forming Government when neither of the major parties has a majority. Our prayer for them could easily be that from Timothy today - ‘that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for rulers of states and all in authority, that we may enjoy a quiet and peaceful life in godliness and respect’. Those in authority at the time were the Roman rulers – a pagan system – yet the Christians were asked to pray – to respect others who did not share their religion or values. If our Government fails, citizens suffer. We pray for it to succeed.
In our advocacy for the poor, with government officials and others, we are asked to put our case with respect and courtesy. We know from other passages of the gospel, that we need to do it with passion and persistence.
The parable in Luke’s Gospel is an interesting one. What was Jesus trying to tell us? The story is about a dishonest administrator, about to be sacked, who wrote down others’ debts so that when he was jobless, former clients owed him favours and he could count on their help. The dishonest staffer was commended for his survival skills but not for his fraud. He used others’ money for his own ends. Jesus seems to say to his followers, 'When you are involved with money, be honest and use it for others, not yourselves’.
We are not likely to ‘Worship false gods’ in the sense that we bow down to Mammon/money, but if making money and working to get more than we need become obsessive – more important than family and the poor – then this challenge of Jesus is for us.
How can we use ‘filthy money to make friends’... who will welcome us ‘into eternal homes?’ Maybe Jesus means us to share our time, our money, our energy to empower others – family members, neighbours and the wider community of ‘the poor’.
Sr Rose Mary Kinne op
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