Foresight is mental preparedness. It focuses disciples on the Community of God. Our foresight about the Community of God can be diverted by such things as wealth. In the Old Testament wealth tends to be seen from the point of view of those who have it. They believe it is a blessing from God. The prophetic tradition tends to see wealth from that same diverting point of view. The prophetic tradition is represented in this Sunday’s first reading by Amos. Amos assumes people are wealthy because they have been blessed by God. He encourages wealthy people blessed by God to look out for poor people not blessed by God. Amos wants the rich should not treat the poor unjustly. But Amos’ point of view is still wealthy people and the belief that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing.
Jesus presents people with a different point of view. He is letting people see life from the point of view of those who are marginalized. For example, we can see life from people who are poor. Jesus is poor. He is routinely talking to people who are poor. In this Sunday’s Gospel he is telling people a parable about a dishonest manager. He is letting them know wealth is not a sign of God’s blessing. Wealth is a sign of dishonesty. Jesus and some of his listeners know that. They know the manager and the system of dishonest wealth the manager pursues and promotes exploits commoners. What to do about it? In Christ, it is good but not enough to call wealthy people toward better treatment of poor people. It is also necessary to transform the dishonest wealth system wealthy people have constructed. It is not of Christ. What do we do then with the possible interpretation that Jesus exemplifies the dishonest manager in the parable? It is to exemplify the seemingly consummate planning of those who pursue wealth. Such pursuit is done with a concentrated foresight. It is done with mental preparedness. Jesus wishes those qualities for disciples. In a world concentrated on wealth we need to be just as concentrated on people. In a world concentrated on control we need to be just as concentrated on cooperation. We cannot be surprised that people are left out in this world of wealth and need to be pulled in by us. We need foresight to be aware of and change the harmful effects capitalism’s concentrations of wealth and control always effect in the lives of those who are poor. We need to be prepared and always planning as we focus on our brothers and sisters.
Attending to earthly possessions is such a small matter and yet it can manage to master our conscience and blind us to people’s needs. If we cannot be trusted with such a small matter as wealth, how can we be trusted with the really important matters of people and cooperation?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, free me from any concerns about being poor.
Question: How would I describe my foresight or mental preparedness?
September 22, 2013 – Gospel Luke 16:1-13 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time