Word to the Wise
Friday, September 20, 2013 - Friday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 6:2c-12 and Luke 8:1-3]Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. [1 Timothy]
ST. ANDREW KIM AND ST. PAUL CHONG AND COMPANIONS, martyrs
I have thought of this passage many times since the 2008 financial crisis occurred which has plunged this country and others into considerable misery! Although we Americans on the whole are materially better off than most of the world, even here there are pockets of "third world poverty" that go without food, shelter, clean water, clothing or medical care or employment. The comparison between their situation and the greed that has been revealed on the part of individuals and institutions in the financial industry since 2008 is appalling! All sense of perspective is lost in the reckless pursuit of money! The "economy" has become a kind of all consuming deity to which anyone or anything may be sacrificed. It is not simply a matter of the USA, but a global scandal if we take the gospel seriously.
The size and scope of this subject can discourage one. What personal choices can be made that will make any difference? Is it not like a drop of water in the ocean? I am reminded of the story of the sparrow who heard from another creature [maybe "Chicken-licken"] that the sky is going to fall. So she lay down on her back and pushed her little legs up against the sky as hard as she could. A passer-by stopped and asked what she was doing? She replied, "I heard the sky is going to fall and I'm holding it up with my legs." The passer-by said, "Sparrow! Do you think your spindly little legs can hold up the sky?" The sparrow replied through gritted beak: "One does what one can!" If enough of us "lived simply so that others could simply live" [to quote one slogan], those drops of water would soon be enough to give drink to many a thirsty people! AMEN