Thirteenth Friday in Ordinary Time

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! "When will the new moon be over," you ask, "that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?" We will diminish the containers for measuring, add to the weights, and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!"

We must take extreme care to avoid trampling the needy and cheating others of what is rightfully theirs. We might not think we do such things, but we all fail to do good in some way or another whether out of ignorance, indifference, or selfishness. When we see others in need, our first and only response should be to give aid to the other person as best we can. This isn’t always easy, especially when we are “busy” with our own pursuits or worrying about our own problems. However, when we allow ourselves to deny another what is right, we cheat them of their due and we deny God. We diminish ourselves by our lack of love, mercy, and compassion. So, let us be on guard for these opportunities to be the charitable arm of Jesus and bear his goodness to all whom we meet.

Have we trampled the needy by ignoring or dismissing them? How can we make up for these past transgressions against God and His children? What can we do to become more charitable and compassionate?

O Lord, help us to be upright toward the needy and protect the poor of the land.

Amen.