So who is right?
Some Christians state that our primary focus should be on the eradication of sin in our personal lives, expressly decrying the evils of drink, lust (and its byproducts adultery and fornication, among others), and scorn of authority. Others cry out that social responsibility is our watch-word, joining forces to combat a current social ill under a spotlight (racism, sexism, violence against different groups, oppression of the poor). A few even state that if we but focus on God all the riches of the world will come to us. All of them look at the other groups with either pity, scorn, or even hatred.
I will be frank. The Law and the Prophets and the Gospels don't read very well for the rich, particularly those who enjoy their wealth without giving heed to the distress of those who have none. Mosaic Law has stipulations that would make most conservatives who like the personal holiness code of Leviticus reel with dismay if they had to leave some of their product and profit lying around for the poor to scoop up or be kind to the alien, documented or not in their midst. The prophets foresee horrible things for the careless rich. Our Gospel at Mass has Jesus heap honour on the poor but foretell sorrow, grief, and despair for the rich.
Jesus' words in today's Gospel (Luke 6.17-26) echo the Sermon on the Mount. We do, however, tend to forget that among the social commentary that repentence and forgiveness of sin is also taught. Both the far left and far right are right in calling out that personal holiness and social holiness are important, where they fail is when they exclude the one for the other, but the Prosperity Gospel is a heretical cancer that infects too many in the Church. The only reward promised for taking up one's cross and following Jesus is the laying up of treasures in heaven, where not only moth and rust corrupt and thieves don't break in and steal, but also stock markets don't crash, hedge funds don't evaporate, and junk bonds are not issued. All our comforts on earth are transitory, all can evaporate in a flash.
Does that mean the rich and important are guaranteed damnation? No, but the expectations are high. Many of us who consider ourselves poor in the West are in fact blindingly rich by the standards of the rest of the world. If we have enough to console ourselves, we should be unconsolable that others don't and give from our bounty to help those who don't have enough. If we are well-fed, perhaps we should consider a discipline of fasting so that what we had eaten can instead be sent to those who fast involuntarily. If we have enough going well to laugh, perhaps we should mourn for those whose lives have no hope or joy and seek to do what it takes to bring them hope or joy. We should engage in repentance, not for accidents of birth or opportunity or good stewardship or hard work, but for a lack of caring, a lack of concern, a failure to recognize the Image of God in the least fortunate around us.
Let us actually care that there are people who are hungry, sorrowful, and despised, and show mercy to them so the Father will show mercy to us.
