Today’s first reading reminds me of a scene from the book the hunger games, in which people gathered around tables eating and drinking their fill. The reader and the character whose view you had adopted was appalled to learn that they had developed a system of drinks to make them expel all the food they had already taken in, so they could make room for more. Everything about the city described in those books was one of lavish, over the top excess. The people outside the city were left with hardly anything, while those living inside dyed their skin, wore rich garments, ate to their fill (and more) every day, and simply partied life away.
Recently we had a young girl with Asperger syndrome sail a great distance to deliver a message of excess to a country that often lives in it. Her message was one of fear and anger, her face often distorted in what appeared to be what I can only describe as rage. While many disagree with her words, the effort she has gone through to deliver them should be commended. This bilingual youth should give us pause to ask: Is she right? Why would she travel so far if she wasn’t afraid? Why are grown men and women making fun of a young person who did something so drastic, instead of asking how can we help? Those are good questions.
Read this next part carefully and fully before reacting. While I agree with some of her messages, I don’t want to confuse the next part with that. She is right about one thing for certain: We have failed her. Whether you believe in climate change or not, it’s apparent that our youth are afraid. She’s not the only one riddled with anxiety over the future of our planet. Some are paralyzed with fear, unable to function. Others, including one of the women who have been elected to prominent positions in our government, have said: “Even while I was on vacation, I woke up in the middle of the night, at 3:30 in the morning, just concerned about climate change.” We have failed them, in two specific ways.
First, we have failed to create a world in which the dignity and respect of all humans come before our own comforts. Now, don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with having wealth, in and of itself. Notice in the very first reading, it talks about them composing their own music. God isn’t telling them they can only sing things written by David. He’s contrasting the use of their talents. David wrote Psalms of praise and worship, poetry that expressed the human condition and expressed faith in God. The people that Amos is preaching to, wrote things just for their own pleasure. The same goes for wealth. If we are blessed with wealth, we should be using it to further the kingdom of God. To help those without, regardless of who they are. To leave this world a better place. To remember that all of it, the earth and all in it, belong to God. We are but stewards and should be treating it as such.
Secondly, and the most heinous way we have failed is we have not given them hope. As Christians, we believe in the presence of God in all our lives. The Psalm response for this Sunday is “Praise the Lord, my soul!” If our soul is truly praising Jesus Christ, then how should our outward manner be? Joyful, loving, kind. The Psalm also declares: “Blessed he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry.” If we truly lived that out, even if we didn’t believe climate change to be a problem, when a sixteen-year-old girl sails a great distance to speak about something that scares her, we’d take some time to address it. We wouldn’t make fun of her and put her down, we’d try to make sure she was not being oppressed, and if she were we’d seek justice even at our own discomfort.
We can point the finger at other countries and blame them for polluting our oceans and demand the freedom to enjoy our couches and our food. That doesn’t change the nature of what God calls us to as Christians. The story of the rich man and Lazarus reminds us that it’s dangerous not to notice those in need around us. Being rich wasn’t the man’s problem, it was ignoring Lazarus who was close at hand with needs the rich man could have helped to provide. “But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” Love, patience, gentleness. Are we doing that? Are we bringing the hope of the love of God to others in our thoughts, word, and deeds? That includes reaching out to those we disagree with, to bring them the hope of salvation, while also, if in our power to do so, “supplying their needs.” (James 2:16) The Gospel calls us to action, not just words. How will we respond in this life?
A reflection on the readings for September 29th, 2019: Sunday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time