In the first of the two Scripture readings today, Amos continues to rail against the abuses inflicted on the poor by unscrupulous people, cheating them in the sale of wheat that was so essential to their daily diet. Fake baskets with a false bottom were used to hold wheat. It was not uncommon to touch the scales to inflate the weight while items were being weighed. Evil and greed on display.
We heard an admonition from God if those in a position to effect change remained silent. Silent also would be words and actions of God on our behalf. But thanks be to God, people today have not remained silent or at least many have not. There is concern for the welfare of our sisters and brothers across the world, a concern motivated by God and the concerns that Jesus expressed on behalf of the poor and marginalized.
An example of this emerged in a discussion at our dinner table one evening. Conversation took place about our schools in Northeast India that are sponsored by our Holy Cross religious. Complaints were leveled against our religious for paying their faculty too well adversely effecting neighboring schools.
Our religious consistently tried to explain that our motivation for better wages comes from our adherence to Christian principles and teachings and to provide people with a living and just wage. Our Holy Cross educators in Northeast India have chosen the way of truth and have set God’s ordinances before them. God’s word and actions are certainly not silent there. Nor is it elsewhere but it can be if we choose to ignore the cry of the poor and marginalized.
What a wonderful gospel today, the call of Matthew. This for me is a gospel that is best understood if we can visualize what happened. From what I can tell, Jesus noticed Matthew. Why Matthew? Jesus asked Matthew to follow Him. He did. Still not clear to me why Matthew, why he would follow Jesus.
It was at the table in Matthew’s house that something significant took place. Castaways and sinners were allowed to sit at the same table as Jesus. What a feeling that had to have been! Jesus often gave people that feeling; they were ready to give Him the shirt off their backs. That is how much they loved Him for His loving them, His outreach to them, His expression of mercy and compassion for them.
Some people in our world today may never understand Jesus’ expression of mercy and compassion which continue to be motives for our reaching out to others. We care for others because we know He cares for us.
