TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C NO SERVANT CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS (Amos 8.4-7; 1 Tim 2.1-8; Lk 16.1-13) There is a proverb in the Agikuyu tribe which goes, “Murugi ígírí ndagaga ígucura.”. This mean, when one is cooking two pots simultaneously, most likely one will burn. It is the same as saying, when one is serving two people simultaneously, the mistakes is sure to occur. Among the gods that many people do worship, many are on top of the list as the most worshipped god. Today we are in this Church to worship the One True God, not just with our lips but with our hearts. In our First Reading, prophet Amos is condemning the exploitation of the poor by the rich. He is also condemning the judicial system which denied the poor any hope of obtaining justice. Prophet Amos is one of the celebrated prophets known for fighting for human right and equality. Today he depicts what many Kenyans calls ‘Unguruwe’, the greed of the wealth people. They don’t wait for the Holy Day to be over so that they can get back to making more money by dishonest practices. This doesn’t mean money or wealth is evil but can drive men to evil. It good that our worship be reflected in our daily interactions with the poor. Our wealth or riches should enable us to bridge the gap between those who have and those who have not. Believe me that there are some of us who normally come to Church to worship but they are distracted because their minds is thinking on how to make more money. Let me share with you an experience I had when I was a youth. One hot afternoon, I was seated at Uhuru Garden and next to me at the bench was a man in his mid-twenties. Though we dint know each other, we he initiated a conversation after seeing me admiring a man wearing a very nice ‘god-father.’ I remember telling him how I love that kind of cap but I lamented it is too expensive and I cant afford. He told me that there is somewhere he can get me a cheaper one and we negotiated the price and then he left me there promising me I give him a few minutes. I went on to read my novel and for sure he returned with the cap wrapped in a polythene paper. I looked at it and for sure it was the kind I wanted. I parted with some money and the man vanished into the thin air after that brief transaction. I was now cladding in my new swag. Then I stood and I was just walking towards the street when I found myself not walking but flying. Somebody from behind had grabbed me by the belt. When I recovered from the shock, I realized it was a policeman and all that I remember is that he murmured something that I was a thief. I was taken to the central police and it was there was the owner of the ‘god-father’ now giving his statement. I realized later that ‘my new swag’ was the one I had seen earlier and it was snatched from his had by my trader. Am sure you want to know what happened next but let it rest remain in the archives of the dead. I was only trying to say that some of us interpret everything in terms of money even the happenings here in the Church, they try to look for what can benefit them financially. Sorry to traders and Matatus owners. During the Holy Christmas and Easter, we see the prices of many things rocketing. And the phrase “Kahuwa ni keru” (the coffee is ripe) is widely used. I don’t want to call that exploitation of the poor but it is her twin sister. St Paul in the Second reading is urging us to pray for everybody and much more for our leaders so that we may leave in peace and be saved. We also learn that there is only One God who saved us through One Jesus Christ. The more reason we should worship the only One God. Jesus in the Gospel is giving a parable on how a steward when ne realized his evil life has been discovered, he started creating friends but also using evil means. This shows how its hard to kill a habit. This steward had formed a habit and even at the threat of losing his job and reputation, he continued with that bad habit. My lecturer Dr. MMM used to tell us that, ‘a habit doesn’t go away, it only matures.’ This steward had cultivated unfaithfulness for many years and now instead of repenting and getting a new chance, he is perfecting that bad habit. It is true, if one is faithful in little things, for sure he will be faithful when entrusted with bigger things. The same with small habits will grow to big habits. Let’s reflect about the clay work. After some time, the molding clay usually dries and become hard and can’t be molded into any other shape. The same with the habit. When the habit matures, it hard to change. To change a mature habit is like putting the tail of a dog in a straight pipe to straighten it. Even the criminals, many do go back to their former life after leaving the rehabilitation centers. But as we saw last Sunday with the Prodigal Son, through the grace of God, a habit can be changed. Let me end my reflection by this. We all know the glass window. When we look throw the glass window, we see people outside. But when we look through the mirror, which is of the same material as the glass window, we don’t see other people but ourselves. The mirror is covered with a silver paper that hinders one from seeing through. At time riches may hinder us from seeing other people such that we see and interpret everything in terms of our financial benefit. Even fellow human beings stops being human beings to us but objects of generating money. Finally, Money may buy the husks of things but it cannot buy the kernel. It brings you food but not appetite; medicine but not health, acquaintance but not friends, servants but not faithfulness, day of pleasure but not peace and happiness. (Henrik Ibsen) B’Yah ©21092013
Posted on: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 18:13:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015