Readings for Sept. 7-8 , Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Jack Treloar, SJ | For On Mission
The reading from James in this week’s Scriptures is one of the most challenging in the three-year cycle of Sunday readings. The author presents a story of two people who come into a Christian assembly. One is wealthy, the other poor. Wealth becomes the criteria for how each one is treated.
The disparity of treatment given to these people makes a sensitive Christian cringe. The rich man is treated lavishly; the poor man is treated with disdain. James’ point is that each man should be treated the same.
James describes the rich man as having gold rings and fine clothing. The poor man, however, comes dressed in shabby clothes. Each description emphasizes outward appearance rather than internal worth. Once we remove these appearances, however, we find two people who need salvation just like every other member of the community. He tells us that the important aspect of each man is a common humanity and need for redemption.
James’ reminder is particularly important for those of us who live in a culture that emphasizes appearance.
We live in a society based on appearance dictated by advertising and media. We have to wear the most in-fashion clothing with company logos to show people that we can afford the very best. We have to own the largest houses in the neighborhood. We must possess the latest computers or other electronic gadgets.
The more important part of the encounter in James’ example is the manner in which each of these men is treated by the leader of the assembly. The rich man gets a place of honor; the poor man is treated as if he were an animal. “Sit at my feet.” James’ condemnation is swift and brutal, “have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs.”
This kind of behavior has no place in the Christian community. Every member is human and loved by God. Wealth and honor have no place in a loving community.
In the Gospels, Jesus opts for the poor, the outcasts, the ailing and the marginalized. He cures blind people. He takes care of widows. He feeds the hungry. Jesus bluntly tells people that the first will be last and the last first.
Jesus takes our normal human way of acting and turns it upside down and inside out to show us that we have a common humanity, and the values of the world do not reflect God’s way of proceeding.
Finally, in the illustration given by James, the procedure of preferring the rich man over the poor one sows division among the members of the community.
Such division is ultimately based on the lie that wealth is preferable to poverty. When we follow the pattern of Jesus, we learn that our common humanity is the central characteristic — not gold rings, fine clothing or shabby dress.
He concludes the story by saying, “Listen my beloved brothers and sisters. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him.”
Fr. Treloar, an assistant director at Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, has served as a professor, lecturer, author and academic administrator.
The readings for Sunday, Sept. 8, can be found at Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.
