How do we connect?
The prophet Amos,
like many prophets, was not appreciated by his listeners. They are enjoying a time of prosperity, so
it’s easy for them to kick back and not worry about God. But Amos calls them out on their inattention
to the needs of those around them: Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land!
Amos even quotes their own shrill words back to them: We will
buy the lowly for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals. Outrageous! Clearly there is a profound disconnect
between rich and poor in this community, an utter lack of connection between
the two, on the part of the rich because they simply don’t care, and on the
part of the poor because they are victims, having no means with which to forge
connection. Psalm 113 suggests that God
himself strives to recreate the connection missing here: God raises
up the lowly from the dust… to seat
them with the princes of his own people.
Connection across social barriers is necessary, life-giving,
life-sustaining, and therefore has divine support.
Curiously, the
unfaithful steward in Luke’s Gospel knows all too well the importance of
connection. When accused by his master
of squandering his property, the
steward immediately works to establish a solid connection with his community,
forgiving debts so that his debtors may
welcome him into their homes. He cannot survive without the support of
community, and he knows it. Do we? Are we trustworthy
in very small matters as well as with the true wealth of God, dealing justly with all? Do we support one another in justice, so that
all may have life?
Such support is
not necessarily always monetary. When
Paul writes to the young pastor Timothy who is having trouble connecting with his
community, he calls upon Timothy to pray in
community with them: I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions,
and thanksgivings be offered for everyone.
Moreover, in every. place the men
should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. Prayer is yet another form of connection,
of life-giving support, part of our baptism as priest, prophet and king; with Christ
Jesus as our mediator, we may
humbly intercede for the salvation of others, praying for grace and justice for
all.
If only we connect…
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