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Reflection on this Sunday's scripture readings
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Today's readings challenge us to search for justice in society and to use our possessions not for our self-advancement but for the betterment of those in need. The prophet Amos speaks out against the injustices of his day (8th century BCE). A small and powerful élite dominated the economic life of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and, to preserve their authority, oppressed the ordinary people by charging high prices for basic commodities. Later in the book Amos sees that a new kind of economic order will emerge - one marked by justice, liberty and peace. Then the poor and the lowly will be raised up, as the psalmist tells us today.
The gospel passage is difficult because we might be led into thinking that Jesus is teaching his disciples to imitate the injustice of the steward. This is not the case. What is to be imitated is the shrewdness of the steward in the use of possessions. The disciples must be decisive in their use of money and share it with others, especially the poor and needy. Jesus' teaching, says Luke, is that the disciple must give exclusive loyalty to God or succumb to the enslavement of mammon (anything else in which we put our trust), and one is loyal to God by sharing mammon with others, especially those in need.
Can we take up the challenge to be a disciple and contribute to God's kingdom where justice reigns?