Readings for Proper 17C:
Ecclesiasticus 10:7-18; Hebrew 13:1-8; Luke 14:1; 7-14
September 2, 2007
The Rev. Karen Faye Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino, CA
Jesus said: “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14) In celebration of Labor Day, I would like to look carefully at today’s Scriptures and see what the Spirit might be telling us in regard to labor, justice, and human dignity.
Tomorrow is Labor Day; a federal holiday that always takes place on the first Monday in September. This holiday began in 1882 for the purpose of creating a day off for the “working man.” It was a time when Americans began to aggressively speak out against poor working conditions and unfair labor practices. This holiday is still celebrated by those who labor but has mainly become a day of rest for all people.
When it comes to labor, there is much attention in the media. We hear about immigrant labor, minimum wage, out-sourcing, the working poor, labor unions, free trade, multi-national corporations, job sharing, the World Bank, indentured servants, and even childhood slavery. We hear about appalling conditions such as sweatshops, lack of protective gear in hazardous environments, and the increasing divide between the rich and the poor. For conscious people, these issues bring up questions about how to better organize our economics, trade policies, and labor agreements to insure justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being. When we ask questions in this manner, we are striving to enter the narrow door of the kingdom of God (i.e. life as God intended).
But not all people keep God in the equation when it comes to making decisions about human labor and economics. Instead, they prefer to seek advice from the universities whose scholars are steeped in theory rather than practice. They turn to the multi-national corporations who often disregard issues of human dignity and frequently succumb to greed. And finally, they turn to the politicians, hoping that they will pass legislation that is honest and just, but knowing deep down inside, that re-election and self-interest usually come first.
I know that worldwide economics is very complex and difficult. I do not pretend that I can contribute significantly to the conversation. When it comes to insuring justice in worldwide trade and labor, my voice seems weak against those of the rich and powerful. However, it only takes a spark to get a fire going. I can become the change that I wish to see in the world. And if all Christians did the same, then life would be much different on this planet. We have the power to vote, the power to buy (or not buy) certain goods, the power to teach our children generosity and self-sacrifice, and the power to treat all people who come into our sphere with justice and dignity. While many university professors, business people, and politicians claim to be Christian, they often do not allow the Word of God to influence their actions or decisions. So let’s begin with ourselves and see what the Word of God might be teaching us today.
The opening collect (BCP 233) petitions God to graft “love” into our hearts, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works. And what is true religion? The Letter of James says: Religion that is pure is this: “To care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27) The prophet Micah claims that God requires us “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
Today’s first reading is from Ecclesiasticus, also known as the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach. This apocryphal book was written about 200 years before the birth of Jesus and its purpose was to present the Jewish faith as being reasonable in a Greek context. Today’s chapter clearly states that arrogance, injustice, pride, and anger are not part of God’s intention for humanity and if practiced over time, result in decay and destruction. These are just a few simple tips of wisdom for those setting the economic agenda!
The second reading is from Hebrews:13 which contains a series of somewhat loosely connected exhortations calling for consistency in the life of a believer. The advice that stands out for me includes the following: Have mutual love for one another. Show hospitality to strangers. Visit those in prison. Remember those who are being tortured. Be faithful in your relationships. Keep yourself free from the love of money. Be content with what you have. Do not live in fear of scarcity. Imitate the actions of faithful Christians. In summary: put your faith into practice by caring about others.
Finally, in our gospel reading, Jesus warns his listeners not to treat others based on self-interest but rather based on human need and dignity. He uses the parable of a wedding banquet and challenges the etiquette of 1st century Palestine as well as the etiquette of Miss Manners. In God’s kingdom, the head table is not populated with closest friends, family, and distinguished guests as is traditionally done at most important invents. In God’s kingdom, the guest list is expanded to include those who are typically “not our kind.” In God’s kingdom, those on the margins (e.g. the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame) are not only invited to the wedding banquet but are placed in high honor at the head table. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14)
So imagine how differently we would treat our labor force and construct our trade agreements if we were to take today’s Scriptures seriously. Perhaps we would have more compassion for the tremendous suffering that the third world labor force endures in order for us to buy cheap goods. Perhaps we would become more aware of the devastating effects that free trade has on the average farmer in South America and in Africa. Perhaps we would be more motivated to buy fair-trade products. Perhaps we would begin to see the world as God sees it.
What would we see if we viewed the global economy through the eyes of faith? We would see a worldwide labor force struggling to survive. These folks are not necessarily visible within our local affluent communities but are hidden away, on the edges of our cities, in slums or shanty towns, with many more living in poor remote villages all over the world. We would weep over the 1.3 billion people living on less than $1 a day and 2.3 billion living on less than $2 a day. And because we eat their products, buy their goods, enjoy their resources, and profit from their labor, we would rise up and take responsibility for their oppression and exploitation.
Robina, an 18-year-old teenage girl from Bangladesh has been a factory worker at Western Dresses for about two years. She earns $15.25 a month for making 150 pieces of back pocket flaps an hour. She talked about her experience: “If you made any mistakes or fell behind on your goal, they beat you. They slapped you and lashed you hard on the face with the pants.” Her normal working day includes sitting on a little wooden stool for 16 hours, inhaling the dust off the factory floor, and being surrounded by the heat of the overcrowded factory.
Maksuda, a 19-year-old and a single mother, has been a factory worker since she was 11. At seventeen, she became pregnant and found herself unable to keep up with the rapid production of goods. Her manager noticed her slow down and said that he didn't want to hear her excuses about being pregnant.
She tried to respond but her boss violently kicked her in the stomach. She fell to the floor and fainted. When she was eight and a half months pregnant, she tried to ask for a legal maternity leave but was told that there was no law for this in the factory. She had to quit her job and take out a loan to cover costs for the delivery of her baby. Soon after the birth, she had to go back to work and begin paying off her debts. These are just a few of the stories of the desperate poor; workers who long to be treated as human being and paid a fair wage.
It seems to me that instead of arguing about doctrinal purity, nitpicking about worship, and focusing on moral crusades against sexuality, people of faith need to focus on making significant changes in the way we do business. We need to lift our voices and use our influence to pave the way for justice and dignity for all who labor.
I am proud of the Episcopal Church, which has focused on the plight of the poor by supporting the Millennium Development Goals. These goals are part of a world-wide, concrete action plan for the purpose of reversing the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people. I am also proud of you, the people of this congregation, who have generously pledged to this church, a portion of which supports outreach efforts toward these Millennium Development Goals. The social justice committee of our parish continues to meet and think about how we can become more personally involved in this vital cause.
Today’s Scriptures put out a call for us to move from a place of self-interest and indifference, to a place of loving justice, marked by compassion, mercy, and commitment to those who labor. Hear what the spirit of God is saying to the community.
| Updated September 5, 2007 |
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