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PETER McVERRY SJ
REALITY CHECK
PETER McVERRY SJ
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THE TWO GREAT SINS
GREED AND THE MISUSE OF POWER ARE THE TWO GREAT SINS IDENTIFIED BY JESUS OF NAZARETH
In the Gospels, Jesus warns his followers to avoid the two great sins. The first was – no, not sexual misconduct! – but the selfish accumulation of wealth in the midst of widespread hunger. The second was the misuse of power for personal self-interest. Both are in conflict with the fundamental value which Jesus required of his followers, namely solidarity.
FIRST GREAT SIN
Then: At the time of Jesus, about 8 per cent of the population lived a very wealthy lifestyle. As an agricultural society, wealth consisted of the possession of large estates, which were divided up and rented out to peasants who often had to pay the landlord up to 50 per cent of the produce they harvested, leaving them with insufficient food for their own needs. If the harvest was bad, or the rains came late, they might fall into debt just to get something to eat. Some of Jesus' parables express the anger of the tenants and their efforts to fight back against their exploitation by the wealthy (c/f Luke 16:18). More than half the parables in the Gospels are about how wealth in the midst of poverty is incompatible with the Kingdom of God (c/f Luke 12:13–21/Luke 16:19-30/Matt 18:23-35), and is an obstacle to our relationship with God.
Today, that sin is still very much alive. The recently leaked Pandora Papers (following the leak of the Paradise Papers in 2017 and the Panama Papers in 2016) reveal hidden wealth, tax avoidance and money laundering on a massive scale by some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people. All while millions live in poverty, with no access to healthcare or education, children die of starvation, and refugees have no place to live. Some 330 politicians from 90 countries, including kings and prime ministers, are named.
In wealthy Ireland, 190,000 children still live in households experiencing poverty. Thousands of renters are paying over 50 per cent of their monthly wage to a landlord, leaving them with insufficient money to feed and clothe their family and pay their bills. Despite a good salary, they are effectively living in poverty.
We live in a society where many people seek not just financial security but prosperity. Many of us have more than we need, while many others have less than they need.
Today, Jesus might say, "Live simply, share generously," or, to paraphrase St Teresa of Calcutta: "Share till it hurts and then share a little more."
SECOND GREAT SIN
Then: At the time of Jesus, most rulers, like King Herod, were brutal and uncaring. They used their position to further their own self-interest, to retain power and become rich. When the people in Sepphoris rebelled against Herod, he destroyed the city, crucified 2,000 of its inhabitants and forced the rest into exile.
By contrast, Jesus ordered his followers to follow the example he himself set: "You know that among the pagans, their so-called rulers lord it over them and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No, anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant" (Mark 10:42–45).
Today, in many parts of the world, leaders abuse their power, ignoring the needs of the people in order to cling to power and make themselves rich. From Donald Trump in the US, to Russia, China, Belarus, Myanmar, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan and many other countries, dictatorships, military coups, or rigged elections are common. Corruption by those in leadership is rampant.
In Ireland, racism towards Travellers, hostility towards immigrants and domestic violence all come from an abuse of power or status, and we are called to challenge it, both within ourselves and in others.
At the time of Jesus, solidarity within the family and community was taken for granted. But today, we live in a culture that emphasises an excessive individualism and personal morality, to the point where we might miss the social dimension of the Gospel. The Gospel is not just about how we, as individuals, should live our personal lives. It is about how we should live together as the people of God, in solidarity with each other, caring and sharing, especially with the poor and vulnerable.
View from homeless tent in Dublin
