“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Long before Merv Griffin created the game show, the wheel of fortune was familiar to religious people. What goes up must come down; and that's just as true of people as it is of arrows and baseballs. Most American cities have landmark homes built by wealthy citizens of the 19th and early 20th centuries. They are visited by tourists who usually ask the tour guides, "Where are their children today?" They're not wealthy; their fortunes declined while others ascended.
Saint Luke's Jesus describes that wheel of fortune with his "Sermon on the Plain." (6:20-49) He promised blessings for his disciples as they are poor, hungry, grief-stricken, and despised. He warned of woe to the rich, the sated, the amused, and the admired, "for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
The Lord challenged the Church of all time to admire and practice these values rather than pursue pleasure, comfort, and the security of this world. The wheel of fortune reflects both gospel preaching and the wisdom of the ages; both agree that "money can't buy happiness."
Sociologists describe several kinds of capital. Money is the most obvious and the least important. More important are knowledge and connections. The nation that invests heavily in knowledge (universal literacy, STEM, the arts and literature, etc) and encourages equality, fairness, and cordial relations among families, clans, and tribes will have all the money it needs.
But the nation which tolerates ignorance and divisiveness wastes its financial resources. History remembers catastrophic failures like the Maginot Line and the Great Wall of China, which were supposed to protect against foreign invaders. When the inevitable day came, the enemy overwhelmed, circumvented, and penetrated those illusory barriers. What goes up must come down. America's fear of aliens forecasts its failure.
Jesus promises blessings to those societies whose values are fixed on caring for one another. They are a city on the hill, naturally attractive. That city gathers the poor, despised, and marginalized; and is enriched by their presence. It offers them education and opportunity, and respects their dignity. It flourishes with God's blessings.
The wheel of fortune describes a common sense which remembers and learns, which is unlike that common sense which assumes its prosperity is permanent. Those who heed God's word may enjoy security and prosperity; those who ignore it are doomed.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.