FOR CHRIST OR AGAINST CHRIST.

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR B
OCTOBER 1, 2006.
(First reading: Numbers 11:25-29.) (Second reading: James 5:1-6.)
(Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48)

FOR CHRIST OR
AGAINST CHRIST.

There are those who are for Christ and there are those who are against Christ. The gospel tells us that there are people who speak well of Christ and others who speak ill of Christ.

The way we speak "of" Christ is not so much with our lips, but with our lives, with the way we live, with our lifestyle. Now, who are those who speak well of Christ and who are those who speak ill of Christ?

1. Who speaks well of Christ? Those who see the Lord Jesus in every human being, in every person wherever they may be, whoever they may be. The one who speaks well of Christ Jesus always lives for the wellbeing of others.

- The Gospel identifies the one who "drives out demons in the name of Christ" (Mark 9:38) as being one who speaks well of Christ. The one who speaks well of Christ denounces and drives out the evils that afflict humanity.

- The Gospel also identifies the one who "gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ" (Mark 9:41), as being one who speaks well of Christ for seeing Christ in every human being is the equivalent of "speaking well of Christ".

2. Who speaks ill of Christ? Those who fail to see Christ in every human being. The Letter of Saint James identifies them as the rich(1). To them the accumulation of wealth is their ultimate goal in life. To the rich, other human beings are just "tools" to make wealth(2).

Saint James describes two conditions in the making of the rich, namely, I) how they acquire the wealth, and II) how they use the wealth. Let us review St. James' explanation.

I. How they acquire the wealth? By withholding the wages "from the workers who harvested your fields" (James 5:4). There is, therefore, an act of stealing the goods which belong to the workers. This injustice is emphasized by St. James' words: The workers "are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts" (James 5:4).

II. How they use the wealth? Saint James indicates that the use of the wealth by the rich is two fold:
a) The rich use the wealth for himself, and only for himself: "You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter" (James 5:5).

b) The rich use the wealth as a means of domination and oppression: "You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance" (James 5:6).

The Gospel this Sunday exposes those who are against Christ, those who are a source of scandal(3), those who cause "one of these little ones who believes in me to sin" (Mark 9:42). The Gospel is telling us: If your wealth causes you to sin, put an end to it!. And Saint James is saying: Your wealth "will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire" (James 5:3).

Western societies glorify the rich, and instill in people the belief that wealth is the ultimate goal of life(4). The church, however has the mission to denounce false doctrines, to bring Christ to the world and to offer people a message of true salvation, of true justice and peace here on earth.

The Church needs to proclaim the Gospel with fidelity, efficacy and courage.
This Sunday's readings are inviting us to be FOR JESUS, to speak well of Jesus.
________________________________________________________
Footnotes.
(1) Throughout history the rich takes different names, i.e.: slave master, feudal lord, mercantile, industrial or corporate capitalist.
(2) Wealth in itself is neutral, neither good nor bad. It only becomes good or bad depending on the modality by which it is acquired and used. The material wealth produced and utilized by man in meeting his needs (even at the highest level of satisfaction required by his human dignity) does not constitute "wealth" in the scriptural sense as presented by Saint James.
(3) Wealth is exposed through its contradictions i.e.: The rich becomes richer while the poor becomes poorer; wealth becomes more concentrated while poverty more generalized; large corporation take in billions of dollars while the laborers loose even basic means of survival.
(4) In such societies the legal system is designed to protect and perpetuate the economic system based on wealth acquired and used as explained by James. Similarly, the means of mass communication are designed to mold a collective mentality favorable to the "rich", favorable to those who "speak ill of Christ".