'Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance (Js. 5:1-6).'
This passage is addressed to the unjust rich for their pride, greed and desire for pleasure. It is not intended to convert them. It is a warning to believers about what will happen to them if they abuse riches and defraud the poor. All material things decay so it is futile to amass unjust wealth, and the treasure they have stored up will be worthless because the day of judgment is near. Wealth that is hoarded and not put to good use at the service of the poor will be a witness against the wealthy who will be meted out just punishment on the day of judgment. When we harm the poor and the needy, we harm Christ himself.
Almighty God, help us to demonstrate our faith by how we live our lives and how we help those in need. Grant us the courage to trust in you so that we may not hoard goods that could be put at the service of the needy and the poor. Teach us to see Christ in our brothers and sisters and to share our bounty with them. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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