Luke 5.18-19
Some men came, carrying a paralysed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus.
Our society too often tells people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps: a fallacy of economic ability through independent action. Not only does this overlook the realities of privilege and position; it is incompatible with the teachings of a man who watched a community lower a man through the roof to get him the help he needed.
Our faith calls for us to be a community.
Ruth 2.17-18
Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied.
Our society suggests that economic stability is dependent merely on individual effort.
We all know – like Ruth and Naomi – that life’s surprises can change our circumstances.
Like so many other women in scriptures, we see Ruth working – hard – in the fields – not just for herself, but for mother in law, that they might both have the basics for survival.
Your people my people, your God my God.
While Ruth and Naomi were rewarded by Boaz, they had come looking for chance to eke out a living in safety – not silver spoon
Our Faith invites us to acknowledge the disparities in opportunity and privilege; and to celebrate the kinship of women throughout the world.
ACTS 16.14-15
A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
Our society indicates that we should think of ourselves first: to save for ourselves, to spend on ourselves.
Yet Lydia demonstrates the gift of using the resources that she had for common good – through acts of hospitality.
Lydia understood that the assets she had the privilege of sharing included the material resources, as well as opportunity (marketplace), equality (allowed to own property), empowerment (household), and the opportunity to offer hospitality (having multiple guests at home).
Faith compels us to live in the theology of abundance.
ACTS 16.16-19
One day, the disciples met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed them, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” The girl followed them for many days, until Paul said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.
Like this nameless girl, so many young women and girls are victims of trafficking in persons – and suffer as “human resources” – a disposable commodity whose only use is for making money for others –
Pray for those who are stuck in exploitation to be liberated;
Or to choose to use their skills for their own benefit.
Faith requires us to advocate for those who are voiceless and oppressed.
LUKE 8.1-3
Jesus went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
Our society often hides the truth that Women have long been pillars of the economy: this example shows how goodness and Good News can be promoted and supported when women are involved in the process; through self-determination.
Faith expects us to collaborate, identifying the many gifts that exist and the many avenues to share them, to make the world a better place.
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