Word to the Wise
Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - Wednesday in the 25th Week in Ordinary Time
[Prov 30:5-9 and Luke 9:1-6]Give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; lest, being full, I deny you, saying "Who is the Lord?" Or being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God. [Proverbs]
Give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the Lord?" Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God. [Proverbs]
Common sense wisdom endures because, well, it's common sense! But there is shrewd insight in the words from today's first scripture from the Book of Proverbs. Having too much of this world's goods has a way of dulling our sense of dependence on God [one reason why Jesus preached on the dangers of wealth]. Living in poverty can drive us to take what is rightfully the food of others and violates the basic law of God: "Thou shalt not steal!"
The Book of Proverbs prays for a fundamental sufficiency: "the food I need." This causes an echo in me from the Lord's Prayer:n "Give us today our daily bread." However, those of us who have more than a "sufficiency" have a further obligation to remember those who do not. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus [Luke 16:19-31] is a good one to meditate on in this regard.
The daily lectionary just offers us bits and pieces of the Book of Proverbs. Irecommend to the Beloved Congregation a complete reading. It can give one much to think about! AMEN