Monday
of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I
Corinthians 2:1-5; Luke 4:16-30)
Jesus’ discourse
in Nazareth’s synagogue might have been delivered to the Labor Day Breakfast of
the AFL-CIO. It clearly addresses social
concerns with a priority of the poor.
Jesus knows that men and women need fair wages, affordable health
insurance, and freedom to associate so that they can avoid desperation and thank
God.
Jesus was
no slouch in the social arena. He continually
raged against Pharisees for burdening peasants with unimportant religious
niceties. The sermon today, which has
been seen as an inaugural address, presents Jesus’ enlightened position on a
number of issues including assistance to the needy and aid to the persecuted.
Despite the
huge differences in the two major political parties of the United States, it is
encouraging to see both championing the poor.
Government, after all, has a role to play in the development of a
society although it is not as important to that end as the family.
