Amos 8: 4-7 (New Jerusalem Bible)
Luke 16: 1-13 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition)
Jesus was not a big fan of financial planning. He told a potential disciple to sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. Jesus told his disciples not to worry about your food and clothing, the Holy Father will provide.
Christians have had an uneasy relationship with money. Monks and Nuns took vows of poverty because they thought money was seductive, dangerous and best avoided. Some monastic orders sold hand-crafted bread, wine and books to support themselves. I remember going to one of these monastic orders in Indiana called St Meinrad. The followers of Francis of Assisi were so strict about avoiding money, they wouldn’t touch money at all because it was evil.
At the other extreme, some Christians have attained millionaire and even billionaire status, often through morally ambiguous means. Some wealthy people may see their success as a divine blessing, but I don’t think so. Most Christians live somewhere between the extremes of poverty and wealth. But some may have more money than they need and other people don’t have enough to survive.
In this parable Jesus is communicating truths on multiple levels, but all mixed together. Verse One makes it clear this parable is being told to the disciples by way of analogy or comparison. The dishonest manager faces losing his job and he needs a way to save it. He takes action in his present situation with his future at mind.
When Jesus is speaking about true riches, he means the things that make us rich to God. A comparison to the dishonest manager as he considers where his future was headed is only about the present. By contrast the followers of Jesus are meant to weigh the future that is to come.
Another way to understand this parable is to compare it with previous parables. We are still in the same setting as the three parables of celebrating being lost and found in Luke chapter 15. Working with such wholeness is the richest of God’s gifts. Just remember the shepherd with a lost lamb and the woman with the lost coin. God wishes us to welcome those who were lost and now found. Whether it be tax-collectors, Gentiles or Pharisees all are found to be made whole. In other words, for each person, God always has a bright future for those who believe.
Jesus makes it clear the Kingdom economics we share and provide for one another is in the spirit of generosity, welcoming and celebrating those who were once rejected. The hungry will be fed, the naked will be clothed, the thirsty will have plenty to drink and the Gentiles and sinners will become part of God’s Kingdom. Jesus says, Use what you have from this age (worldly wealth) in such a way that it will be also used in the Kingdom of God.
The Prophet Amos speaks for God whose eyes see all, even the dishonest practices of the world’s commerce. The oracle of judgement is pronounced against all who “tramble on the needy and bring ruin to the poor.” This passage from the Book of Amos represents the fourth indictment of Israel by Amos for oppressing the poor. It is a constant warning through the preaching of many prophets like Micah, Zechariah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekial.
We can see this type of corruption in our society. In October 2021, the Pandora Papers, exposed secret offshore accounts going to very rich people. This is done because these rich people can avoid paying taxes. This is no different from the selfish people that Amos encountered.
In this week’s reading from the prophets, Amos condemns these practices that exploit the poor. Amos condemns practices that create untrustworthy markets. It is written in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 25, verse 15, “You shall have a full and honest weight and you shall have only a full and honest measure.”
In the ancient world of Amos’ time, units of weight and measure had not been standardized. A shekel was a unit to weigh currency in the Middle East. An ephah was used in the markets to measure dry goods like grain and flour. The scales used in Jerusalem were different from those used in Samaria, Damascus or Tyre. It’s easy to see the temptation to cheat illiterate people at the market if they didn’t understand the correct readings on the scales. During the era of Amos markets were contributors to injustice.
Amos also condemns those who want the Sabbath Day to end. This is the rich people complaining because they want their workers out in the fields 24/7 to exploit them. The Sabbath was not created for just worship, but was originally designed to give rest to all of society and not just the property owners.
But in Amos’ day, the justice part of the Law had been lost, kinda like what is going on in America today, with people in the highest positions of power always favoring the rich over the poor. This phrase from Amos, “Buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals” refers to the practice of enslaving those in debt, even those who only owned a pair of sandals.
The Law of Moses had rules to follow but it wasn’t meant to bring anyone to heaven. Only the love of Christ can do that. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And therefore, we are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24).” AMEN.
