The Wealthy and Powerful

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 -- Week of Proper 29, Year One
Juan de la Cruz (John of the Cross), Mystic, 1591

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 994)
Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123 (morning) 124, 125, 126, [127] (evening)
Nahum 1:1-13
1 Peter 1:13-25
Matthew 19:13-22

A tenet of liberation theology is to see theology from the perspective of the poor and the oppressed. The tradition raises into focus the many passages from scripture which assert that God contends on behalf of the poor and oppressed, indeed that the poor are particular channels of God's grace. God has a preferential option for the poor, says liberation theology. God is working to reverse the structures that produce oppression, and we are called to participate in God's work.

The prophet Nahum announces God's judgment upon the Assyrian empire and its capital of Nineveh. Assyria was a superpower that dominated smaller, weaker nations like Israel and Judah, exploiting them through colonial expansion and heavy tribute (c. 704-612 BCE). Nahum pronounces God's judgment upon such an empire and prophecies divine punishment.

In Matthew's Gospel Jesus addresses a wealthy young man's question, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" The man has lived a life that is faithful to the commandments, but he lacks one thing, according to Jesus. "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." With that instruction, Jesus invites the anonymous young man into his circle of disciples. "Then come, follow me." The young man leaves, grieving, "for he had many possessions." Jesus concludes with this observation: "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

At least 80% of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day. For nearly all of us in the first world, these words of Jesus may leave us grieving too. Jesus' disciples were startled also. "Then who can be saved?" they asked. Jesus' response: "For mortals it is impossible, but for God, all things are possible."

A side note. Some have found Jesus' words so difficult, that they have tried to invent more palatable interpretations for the "camel through the eye of the needle" metaphor. One urban myth has persisted about an alleged city gate called "the needle gate" that was so small that camels had to be unloaded to crawl through its entrance. Appealing image, but untrue. The maxim, as hard as it may sound, is about a sewing needle and a real camel.

The scripture tilts with a particular favor toward the poor and oppressed and striking judgment toward the wealthy and toward those who have power. It is a frequent theme of scripture that tells us that God works to reverse the worldly circumstances of wealth and power. Jesus' punch line today is "many who are first will be last, and the last will be first" (see also Mary's Magnificat and Hannah's song).

Those of us who belong to great empires, and some have said the United States is the greatest empire of world history, and those of us who are the world's wealthy must stand humbly before the words of scripture and God's priorities that scripture reveals.

There are a few wealthy or powerful heroes in the Bible. Joseph of Arimethea comes to mind. At some risk he used his power and wealth to provide a respectful burial for an executed criminal.

Recently there has been some conversation on my blog (lowellsblog.blogspot.com) about taxes and about how we can best respond to the needs of the poor in our nation. I am a proponent of progressive taxation that gives relief to those who can least afford to pay and expects more from wealthy people who have more than adequate income, like me. I am also a proponent of our using our corporate structures to relieve suffering and give opportunity. I think that moral government is government that follows the priorities that scripture reveals, government that works more from the perspective of the weak and poor than from the perspective of the powerful and wealthy.

Prophets like Nahum have a lot to say to nations and governments. Jesus has a lot to say to the wealthy and powerful. And though "for God, all things are possible," our responsibility is to cooperate as much as we can with God's priorities. Jesus promises the disciples that their sacrifices will be abundantly rewarded in the end.
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A note about today's feast, which is new to the trial calendar, Holy Women, Holy Men:

Juan de la Cruz [1542-Oct. 15, 1591] Mystical theologian and Doctor of the Church
and Mystic, he was joint founder of Discalced Carmelites with St. Teresa. Author of
Dark Night of the Soul. (Nov 24)

Lowell
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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


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Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas