Word to the Wise
Friday, July 1, 2016 - Friday in the 13th Week in Ordinary Time
[Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 and Matt 9:9-13]Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! [Amos]
FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2016 FRIDAY IN THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [St. Junipero Serra, ofm]
[Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 and Matthew 9:9-13]
Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! [Amos]
The first scripture for the past several days has come from the Book of Amos, the prophet. After the death of King Solomon, the united Jewish kingdom formed by his father, David, split in two [700's BC]. The northern portion was known as "Israel" and the southern portion, "Judaea." It was in the northern portion that Amos made his appearance and even a cursory glance at his words shows that he did not mince them! He went for the jugular by attacking the ruling class and economic powers. In today's passage, he quotes what he has heard from traders who can't wait for religious observance to be over so they can go after the poor by rigging weights, etc..
Amos' words and prophecy are not just quaint ancient vestiges. Predatory business practices, aimed at people who live from pay check to pay check are common. I can remember a book I read back in 1968 entitled, THE POOR PAY MORE, which exposed door to door sales practices that bound low wage people to contracts for shoddy goods. In more recent years, the American bishops have preached against predatory lending practices known as "payday loans." The economic crisis of 2008 was brought on in no small part by greedy lending practices taking advantage of legislation that was aimed at helping poor people obtain housing.
We do well to pay attention to Amos and his warnings. Our nation should not be built on the backs of the poor in the name of profit. AMEN