25th Sunday Ordinary Time - Year C

The documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore informs the public about the consequences of abusing the earth and its resources.  A combination of human ignorance, greed and indifference has resulted in an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, creating what scientists call global warming.  As a result of this preventable phenomenon, glaciers are melting, plants and animals lose their natural habitats, severe storms and droughts are much more frequent.  The number of category 4 and category 5 hurricanes has doubled in the last 30 years.  Global warming has also caused malaria to spread well beyond the tropics to higher altitudes.  Unless this warming is checked, scientists predict that more than a million species could be driven to extinction by 2050.

Today’s liturgy, especially in the first reading (Amos 8:4-7) and Gospel (Lk 6:1-13) , makes it clear that a sense of stewardship is expected of believers.  Amos was convinced that such stewardship was inseparable from justice – not mere legal or ethical or retributive justice, but biblical justice, that is fidelity to the demands of a relationship.  For believers this relationship binds each to God, and in God to all others.  Relating to this biblical justice, author Walter Burghardt affirms that justice and stewardship it dictates concerns relationships to God, to people and to the earth. (“Justice: A Global Adventure”, N.Y. 2004) Love God, says Burghardt, love every human person, enemy as well as friend, as a child of God, fashioned in God’s image.  Touch things – God’s material creation – with respect and reverence, as gifts to be shared generously.

Amos was convinced that such justice was to govern all interpersonal dealings, especially between the rich and the poor.  As just stewards of this earth’s goods those who have must address needs of those who have not; justice demands a stewardship that cares and shares.  When Amos was ignored, he was harsh in his criticisms and chastisements.

When the steward featured in today’s Gospel found himself among the “have-nots” of his society, he took means to assure his survival.  Though dishonesty cost him his job, he is praised by Jesus for taking the initiative to save himself and secure his future.  Similarly imaginative and even risky measures are required of Jesus’ disciples today.  We are stewards of the earth and upholders of justice, and so we are thereby responsible for one another and all others in Christ.