ALL YOUR GOLD AND YOUR SILVER ARE CORRODING AWAY.

XXVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - James 5:1-6

More than ever before, the value of things is measured by their profit. The bigger the profit, the bigger the value. Once they lose value, they are put aside and even completely discarded. The survival of many industries depends on their profitability. And big companies rise and fall according to the profit they bring to the shareholders. We have created a market economy driven solely by profit. In the past, the big landowners had enough wealth to lead an enjoyable life, like the rich man in the parable of the poor Lazarus, “who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day”. (Lk 16:19). Nowadays, the rich of the earth are those who can get huge profits from their investment. With wealth comes power and influence, being able to create new standards and new rules, and change the world. And the common people look to them as role models, trying to be like them in the pursuit of wealth, power and prestige. It is not surprising that money has become more than ever before the all-powerful god who dominates the world and is worshipped by many. On this subject, Jesus gave a stern warning, when he said: “You cannot serve God and money.” (Mt 6:24).

We need money to satisfy our basic needs and it is impossible to establish a society without money, as a means of exchange and as a means of rewarding the work done and bringing development and progress. However, when we pursue a profit at all costs, we become slaves of money and are ready to oppress and exploit others. Striving to become rich at all costs, we become blind to the reality of poverty and suffering around us. There is a need of creating wealth to overcome poverty, bring development and establish a fair society; but that will not happen unless we check our greed and lay down for a fair share of the wealth.

In his letter, following Jesus’ teaching, James stays on the side of the poor, point out the duties and responsibilities of the rich. 

In any given society, there will always be people who are not able to cope with the demands of life, due to many different reasons. We have created the welfare state to share with them and enable them to lead a life with dignity. However, we must be careful not to create dependency, making it possible for abled people to live on handouts instead of taking responsibility for their own lives.

James leaves a warning for the rich: 

“Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body.”