Come and See!

The Word…

“Hear this, who trample the needy,
destroying the poor of the land! …
The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
I will never forget their acts!!”
(Amos 8:4-7, Hebrew translation).

Pondering the Word…

"When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell grain, and the sabbath, that we may trade in wheat?” New moon? Sabbath? Who waits for such things? It’s 24/7. We market, we sell, we buy. Prime Days™, Black Friday, BOGO…commerce never takes a break.”

“To use a short ephah,” “Only now it’s called ‘shrinkflation.’ Smaller amount, same price.”

“And an oversize shekel-weight,” “What today we refer to as “processing fees,’ ‘overdraft charges,’ ‘late fees,’ ‘automatic subscription renewals,’ ‘roaming and data use charges’…etc., etc.”

“And to tilt cheating scales,” “Maybe it’s just starting a rumor on social media about my competitor or cutting a few corners in production. Small matter. No big deal. No one really suffers.”

“To buy the indigent with silver and the needy for the price of sandals,” “You know, the shiny new gadget we’ve not updated much. The latest fashion, new beauty products. People, even the poor, want to keep up with the times!”

“That we may sell the chaff as grain.” “Cheap imitations and knock-offs. So what if the quality is poor and the products don’t last? We’ll have something new soon enough! “You know the saying, ‘Caveat Emptor’…Buyer Beware.”

Living the Word…

I believe capitalism, at its best, inspires innovation and can improve the financial quality of life for everyone. One need only look at statistics to see how the level of extreme poverty in the world has declined since 1800. (https://ourworldindata.org/a-history-of-global-living-conditions Note: this data looks at things from “the numbers” perspective we talked about last week which does not reflect true quality of life). Over the past 20 or 30 years, however, profits, shareholder returns, and executive salaries have taken over as the most important measures of “success,” at the cost of a declining standard of living for the middle class, and especially for the poor. I freely admit I am part of this system. And I wonder, based on today’s gospel: Am I “trustworthy in very small matters,” like paying attention to the business practices of the companies I patronize? Can I be trusted with true wealth? Do I need to be “more prudent” in my dealings with this generation?

Mon, Sep 22: “So be careful you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes” (Lk 8:16-18, The Message translation). It’s scary out there. People on both sides of the political chasm killed for expressing their views by those who express their views violently. (By the time you read this, the news might have moved on from Charlie Kirk, but let’s not forget the names Melissa Hortman, Michigan State Senator, and her husband, Mark, murdered in June by a right-wing activist.) Jesus tells us today if we have been given “the light,” we are to share that light or we risk losing it. Provision: Share the light of love. We have quite different definitions of “the light.” For some, it is Ten Commandment-based condemnation and punishment for what are deemed moral sins against natural law. For others, the light is found in love and mercy which, taken to an extreme, can challenge “the common good,” another phrase fraught with disagreement! Add to that the violence we witness, and we may opt to keep “the light” hidden. Each of us must choose for ourselves but remember, true light always overcomes the dark. Let’s be lamp bearers of love.

Tue, Sep 23: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it” (Lk 8:19-21). You’ve been praying, praying, praying, hoping God will hear your prayer or give you some acknowledgement that you’ve been heard. But all you sense is God turning away. Provision: “Know that I am with you.” The purpose of this gospel story is to illustrate that faith, not bloodlines, is most important when it comes to God. But here’s another way to consider it: at times it may appear God is not with you. You try but feel crowded out or ignored. But you can’t feel the absence of God without having known God’s presence. Hold onto Jesus’ promise to be with you always, even when you don’t sense his nearness. Have faith.

Wed, Sep 24: “And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them” (Lk 9:1-6). “Wait! What!? I don’t get to throw the dust in their faces! I don’t get to call down lightening (see Lk 9:54) and level the whole place into dust!” Here’s The Message translation: “If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.” Provision: Let it go. This goes along with our discussion on Monday. Oh, we really like to make big scenes of things! Yes, we are called to share “the light,” the Good News of God’s love and mercy, but it is the Spirit who opens the eyes and ears and hearts of those to whom we speak. Arrive in love. Leave in love, regardless of the other’s reaction. Move on.

Thu, Sep 25: Herod heard about [what] was happening and was greatly perplexed…he kept trying to see him (Lk 9:7-9). Perplexed? Herod Antipas is scared out of his gourd. Not only is this guy from Nazareth performing mighty deeds, but now his followers are doing the same things! Herod is anxious about a threat to his power, but perhaps he also feels in his heart an attraction, the same pull to listen to Jesus as he felt with John the Baptist. Provision: Pay attention to “the pull.” Some people fear getting to know Jesus better because of what it might mean for their lives. They are scared to give up what they know. “The invitation of this gentle, loving savior expects nothing difficult or extraordinary of you. …Indeed…God is only asking for your heart” (De Caussade).

Fri, Sep 26: When Jesus was praying in solitude, the disciples were with him (Lk 9:18-22). Jesus in solitude? With the disciples all around him? No, Jesus does not have noise-reducing headphones! He has a noise-reducing Spirit! Provision: Find “bursts of silence” in your day. In his wonderful book, After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, Buddhist monk Jack Kornfield talks about finding solitude amid the ever-present noise. It takes awareness and attention, and we don’t need to be Jesus or the Buddha to do it! But it does take practice. Give it a try today.

Sat, Sep 27: “Pay attention to what I am telling you” …But they did not understand (Lk 9:43-45). Our daughter is getting a PhD in neuroscience. When we talk about her work, I can understand for about 30 seconds and then she loses me completely. I don’t pay good attention to things I don’t understand. Conversely, I can pay way too much attention when I don’t understand laws and actions that contradict what I believe to be gospel truth. I think this inconsistency might have plagued Jesus’ disciples too, in their expectations about who and what the Messiah was to be. They can’t understand something different from what they expect. Provision: Just pay attention. The Greek reads: “Store these words deep in your ears.” In Jesus’ words, “You do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Do you pay attention to the Mystery? We tend to just go along, nodding our heads, but not allowing what we hear to penetrate us deeply, or, God forbid, asking a question! See if you can pay close attention today, particularly to things you don’t understand.