Fr. Erik Tjeunfin, sx
The Mass readings of the 25th Sunday in ordinary time remind me of what had happened in Indonesia and Nepal. Recently there was demonstration, against the government, led by mostly young people (Gen-Z). Looking at the poor economy situation of the citizens, and while the law makers made decision in favour of their own benefits – selfishness, it sparked anger and eagerness from the youth who decided to make an aggressive reformation which could bring development and justice for all citizens.
The first reading depicts for us the oppression which was done by the leaders of the people in the time of Amos, and the response of God to this situation. The poverty and scarcity that the citizens experienced, became their source of income. Here we can see how oppression, crimes and corruption were done by individual Israelites against each other, especially its leaders. Money was their master. As a result, they showed off their affluent lifestyle while the citizens lived in a poor situation. The root of this problem was the lack of justice and uprightness (cf. Ams 5:24). In our context, we can say that in the past we were colonized by other nations but now we are oppressed by our fellow citizens, especially those whom we elect to govern us.
The Gospel also presents the same problem of a selfish steward. He had used his master’s property only for his own benefit. He mismanaged and misused the trust of his master. However, the time of his judgment has come. By using his intelligence and wisdom, he, unlike before, used the money (or his commission) for making friends by lightening the burden of the debtors. If in the past his concern was only about himself, now it is for the goodness of others and his own also.
Thus, through the readings of today and the reality happened in some Asian countries, God invites us to be wise and just steward of our brothers and sisters. As steward, we should use our means to love and serve God in our brothers and sisters. We should build a just society by doing goodness. Money, intelligence and materials should not be our masters: only God must be our only Master. We should run after God (not after money) and all things will be granted to us. As the first of Ten Commandments says, we should not have other gods before Him, because He is the only God that we should worship and serve. We should use our resources for the common good of the community; building the Kingdom of God.
The Mass readings of the 25th Sunday in ordinary time remind me of what had happened in Indonesia and Nepal. Recently there was demonstration, against the government, led by mostly young people (Gen-Z). Looking at the poor economy situation of the citizens, and while the law makers made decision in favour of their own benefits – selfishness, it sparked anger and eagerness from the youth who decided to make an aggressive reformation which could bring development and justice for all citizens.
The first reading depicts for us the oppression which was done by the leaders of the people in the time of Amos, and the response of God to this situation. The poverty and scarcity that the citizens experienced, became their source of income. Here we can see how oppression, crimes and corruption were done by individual Israelites against each other, especially its leaders. Money was their master. As a result, they showed off their affluent lifestyle while the citizens lived in a poor situation. The root of this problem was the lack of justice and uprightness (cf. Ams 5:24). In our context, we can say that in the past we were colonized by other nations but now we are oppressed by our fellow citizens, especially those whom we elect to govern us.
The Gospel also presents the same problem of a selfish steward. He had used his master’s property only for his own benefit. He mismanaged and misused the trust of his master. However, the time of his judgment has come. By using his intelligence and wisdom, he, unlike before, used the money (or his commission) for making friends by lightening the burden of the debtors. If in the past his concern was only about himself, now it is for the goodness of others and his own also.
Thus, through the readings of today and the reality happened in some Asian countries, God invites us to be wise and just steward of our brothers and sisters. As steward, we should use our means to love and serve God in our brothers and sisters. We should build a just society by doing goodness. Money, intelligence and materials should not be our masters: only God must be our only Master. We should run after God (not after money) and all things will be granted to us. As the first of Ten Commandments says, we should not have other gods before Him, because He is the only God that we should worship and serve. We should use our resources for the common good of the community; building the Kingdom of God.