Speak out

Today, I want to reiterate that this parable we have been looking at is indeed speaking about the kin-dom of heaven. It is clear, because it fits the pattern of the parable preceding it and the one that follows. In addition, the term “it is as if” is not a direct rendering of the text. As I wrote on Feb 5, the text – at least my copy – has no verb; the parable starts out comparing the parable with the one preceding it. The first sentence reads “just as if a man going on a journey called his servants …” It’s clearly equating what is to follow with what came before.

Yet, this parable highlights an eternal truth about human beings; the rich have a desire to get richer at the expense of others. That this parable describes our own economic system – and indeed, the global market – is not really surprising. It has pretty much always been this way. Contrary to what economists would have us believe, money naturally flows upward, it does not trickle down. It must be made to trickle down.

In the same way, our elected officials must be made to do the right thing. Looking around, it is easy to see who are the most vulnerable. Those that are most vulnerable still have to work or are homeless or in prison or are in a refugee camp at the border. Many of these people’s voices are being silenced. And they will suffer because of it. Yet, the president and his advisors seem more worried about helping businesses, who need it as well, and assuming they’ll do the right thing. I’m sad to say this was Speaker Pelosi’s thinking as well. Her bill guaranteeing paid sick time exempts companies with more than 500 employees on the grounds that they should step up. The problem is, they must be made to do the right thing. This is an injustice to those who need financial help in this crisis. Even Senator Mitt Romney has suggested just paying everyone $1000, which suggests that he realizes that people need the money now rather than after this is all over.

Please, if you are staying home, find time to contact your representatives and your senators. Please speak up for those who will not be paid for time off – because Pelosi’s bill doesn’t guarantee that. Please speak up for those living in homeless shelters and camps who cannot isolate. Please speak up for those at the border, whose punishment for whatever crime our government imagines they’ve committed has already been enough. Please speak up for a cessation of evictions and letting non-violent criminals out of jail. Please speak up for absentee ballot elections in November, ensuring that everyone will have a chance to vote, whether they’re sick or not. Whatever your city, county, or state is not doing to help the least of these – now is our time to speak out and demand that it be done. 

Let’s use our voices to amplify the voices of those whose voices are being silenced.

B