Saturday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time
Mic 2:1-5
Mt 12: 14-21
Lord, do not forget the poor.
To the Jews, land held great significance – it was seen as an inheritance from God for each tribe and family. Though land was seen as ultimately belonging to God — its true owner — it accorded social status and identity as members of the community to the landowners. Losing one’s land was thus equivalent to losing one’s inheritance and place in the community.
It is against this background that Micah sharply berates the powerful and wealthy – how they lie awake at night to plot and scheme against fellow Jews, eyeing their fields, houses and, in essence, their rightful inheritance. I was reminded of the social justice teachings of the church, which state that the produce of the earth is meant for everyone. Land itself is a gift from God for the common sustenance of all of God’s people (universal destination of goods). By abusing their power, seizing what belongs to the poor for their own selfish reasons, the wealthy not only strip the latter of their God-given rights but also violate their dignity, along with their identity and the future of their descendants. This theft from the poor is theft from future generations and, ultimately, theft from God himself.
Perhaps in today’s context, we don’t see such theft happening as overtly; but there are many subtle ways one can steal from the poor and vulnerable and rob them of their dues. A simple example nearer home concerns how we treat our foreign workers and domestic helpers who leave home and family to seek a decent living on our shores. Whilst there are many kind, compassionate employers around, it is also common to find employers who get away with denying these foreign/domestic workers (FDWs) their basic rights to food, proper rest and recreation, right to privacy and fair treatment that is due every employee.
I was taken aback to hear from a helper who had worked 18 years with the same household, that her monthly salary had been largely stagnant over the many contracts. At the time when we spoke, she was making only a little more than our new helper, who had just landed in Singapore as a fresh FDW. The other helper wasn’t ill-treated and worked under decent living conditions, but I wondered if that was the same as being treated fairly? Looking after an elderly retired doctor and her mother (including a special needs adult child), on top of running the household for that meagre salary seemed to be a really poor deal. It wasn’t outright theft in this case, but subtle short-changing. Would God see this as a passive way of taking advantage of the vulnerable and voiceless? Do we escape judgement from not granting them their rightful dues just because they make no demands or are unaware of the rights they have? Catholic Social Teaching states that every person has the right to participate in economic, social, and cultural life. How might one inadvertently obstruct the progress of the weaker and disadvantaged towards a better life because we are not conscious of our unjust treatment of those under our authority?
Micah warns us that those who do evil to their neighbours will, in turn, bear the wrath of God. The warning is clear – God will also plot ‘mischief’ against those who do evil to others. Perhaps this is where the saying, ‘You made your bed, so you must lie in it’ comes from! What ‘bed’ have I made through my daily choices — my spending, my career ambitions, my silent toleration of, or personal acts of, injustice against another? Have I contributed also to normalising ‘injustices’ that God speaks out against? Micah’s message is a sobering warning anticipating how in final judgement, I stand to lose more than land if I live to oppress the vulnerable; I will also lose my status as a member in God’s community. I will lose Christ himself – a stark and frightening prospect, and certainly too high a price to pay for temporal benefits gained from unjust, unrighteous living.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Corinne Cheok)
Prayer: Grant me Lord, the courage to examine my conscience honestly and acknowledge where I have been unjust in my dealings with others. Help me recognise and stand up for the dignity and rights of my brothers and sisters, made also in your image and likeness.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, dear Lord, that I have more than enough for all my daily needs – not just food, shelter and safety but even luxuries and the means to save for my future. Forgive me for my scarcity mentality and insensitivity to the plight of others. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness, for the awareness that I need to change and to advocate for the poor and vulnerable.
OXYGEN 
Leave a comment