Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 15, 2017

Parable of the man without a wedding garment, a Jan Luyken etching in the Bowyer Bible

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 15, 2017
Lectionary: 142

Reading 1   ISaiah 25:6-10A

On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples  a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.  On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever.  The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.  On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!  This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"  For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm   PSalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6 

R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Reading 2   PHILippians 4:12-14, 19-20

Brothers and sisters: I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance.  In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need.  I can do all things in him who strengthens me.  Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia   Compare to EPHesians 1:17-18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
so that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel   MaTthew 22:1-14 

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people  in parables, saying,  "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.  A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast."'  Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.  The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.  Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.  Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.'  The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.  But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.  The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'  But he was reduced to silence.  Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'  Many are invited, but few are chosen."

433 RESPECT FOR COMMON PROPERTY

YOUCAT Lesson 433

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

433 How should we treat property that belongs to everyone?

Vandalism and deliberately damaging public facilities and common property are forms of theft, and restitution must be made.  [2409]

Litter-Lasts-This-Long sign posted by the US Forest Service at the Los Padres National Forest. ..... 433

“Every time you acquire and use an object, reflect that this is a product of human work and that if you consume, destroy, or damage it, you destroy that work and thus consume human life.”  Leo Tolstoy (1818-1910, Russian novelist)

[2409]

Respect for the goods of others

2409 Even if it does not contradict the provisions of civil law, any form of unjustly taking and keeping the property of others is against the seventh commandment: thus, deliberate retention of goods lent or of objects lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages; forcing up prices by taking advantage of the ignorance or hardship of another. (Compare Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Deut 24:14-15; James 5:4; Amos 8:4-6.)¹⁹²

432 STOCK MARKET AND INTERNET STOCKS

YOUCAT Lesson 432

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth                                                                   

432  May a Christian speculate in the stock market or in Internet stocks?

A Christian can speculate in the stock market or in Internet stocks as long as he does so within the parameters of normal business practices for prudently investing one’s own or someone else’s money and does not thereby break any other commandments.

Crowd gathering on Wall Street after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. ….. 432

Insider trading is the trading of a public company's stock or other securities (such as bonds or stock options) by individuals with access to nonpublic information about the company. In various countries, trading based on insider information is illegal. This is because it is seen as unfair to other investors who do not have access to the information as the investor with insider information could potentially make far larger profits [or avoid losses] that a typical investor could not make [or could not avoid losing].--Wikipedia

Speculating in stocks becomes immoral when dishonest means are used (for instance, insider information); when the transaction puts one’s own or another’s life savings at risk instead of insuring an income; when such speculation becomes an addiction, as with games of chance.

“His money owns him instead of him owning his money.”  St. Cyprian of Carthage (200-258, Church Father)

431 TAX EVASION

YOUCAT Lesson 431, July 29, 2015                        

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

431 Is it permissible to use tax dodges?

Inventiveness in dealing with complex systems of taxation is morally unobjectionable.  It is immoral to evade taxes to commit tax fraud, in other words, to falsify, fail to report, or conceal facts so as to prevent a correct assessment of taxes due.  [2409]

Jesus and the tribute money.  Artwork by Gustave Dore.  (Foreground:  A Tiberius Roman denarius  insert  by Don L. Bragg). …..431

Paying Taxes to the Emperor.

Then the Pharisees^* went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech.  They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status.   Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”  Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?   Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin.  He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”   They replied, “Caesar’s.”^* At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”  When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.--Matthew 22:15-22  

By paying taxes, citizens contribute, each according to his ability, so that the State can fulfill its duties.  Therefore tax evasion is not a petty infraction.  Taxes should be just and proportionate and should be levied by law.

Jesus praises the promise made by the tax collector Zacchaeus:  “If I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8)

[2409]

Respect for the goods of others

2409 Even if it does not contradict the provisions of civil law, any form of unjustly taking and keeping the property of others is against the seventh commandment: thus, deliberate retention of goods lent or of objects lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages; forcing up prices by taking advantage of the ignorance or hardship of another. (Compare Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Deut 24:14-15; James 5:4; Amos 8:4-6.)¹⁹² –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

430 COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE

YOUCAT Lesson 430

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

430  What is meant by commutative justice?

Commutative justice regulates exchanges between persons in accordance with a strict respect for their rights.  It makes sure that property rights are safeguarded, debts repaid, and freely contracted obligations are fulfilled, that reparation is made for injustice or damage, and that stolen goods are returned.  [2411-2412]

 

Zacchaeus by Niels Larsen Stevns.   Jesus calls Zacchaeus down from his height in the tree. ….. 430

[2411-2412]

2411 Contracts are subject to commutative justice which regulates exchanges between persons and between institutions in accordance with a strict respect for their rights. Commutative justice obliges strictly; it requires safeguarding property rights, paying debts, and fulfilling obligations freely contracted. Without commutative justice, no other form of justice is possible. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

One distinguishes commutative justice from legal justice which concerns what the citizen owes in fairness to the community, and from distributive justice which regulates what the community owes its citizens in proportion to their contributions and needs. –CCC

2412 In virtue of commutative justice, reparation for injustice committed requires the restitution of stolen goods to their owner: --CCC

Jesus blesses Zacchaeus for his pledge: "If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." (Luke  19:8.)¹⁹³ Those who, directly or indirectly, have taken possession of the goods of another, are obliged to make restitution of them, or to return the equivalent in kind or in money, if the goods have disappeared, as well as the profit or advantages their owner would have legitimately obtained from them. Likewise, all who in some manner have taken part in a theft or who have knowingly benefited from it - for example, those who ordered it, assisted in it, or received the stolen goods - are obliged to make restitution in proportion to their responsibility and to their share of what was stolen. --CCC

429 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

YOUCAT Lesson 429

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

429  What rules apply to intellectual property?

The misappropriation of intellectual property is theft also.  [2408-2409]

"World copyright terms" by Balfour Smith, Canuckguy, Badseed. - Original image by Balfour Smith at Duke. ….. 429

Not just plagiarism is theft.  The theft of intellectual property begins with copying other students’ work in school, continues in the illegal taking of materials from the Internet, applies to the making of unauthorized copies or trafficking in pirated copies in various media, and extends to business dealings in stolen concepts and ideas.  Every acquisition of someone else’s intellectual property demands the free consent and appropriate remuneration of the author or inventor.

Plagiarism (from Latin plagiaries=kidnapper).  Plagiarism is the unauthorized and concealed appropriation of someone else’s intellectual property, which is made out to be one’s own intellectual achievement.

[2408-2409]

Respect for the goods of others

2408 The seventh commandment forbids theft, that is, usurping another's property against the reasonable will of the owner. There is no theft if consent can be presumed or if refusal is contrary to reason and the universal destination of goods. This is the case in obvious and urgent necessity when the only way to provide for immediate, essential needs (food, shelter, clothing . . .) is to put at one's disposal and use the property of others. (Compare Gaudium et Spes 69 § 1.)¹⁹¹ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

2409 Even if it does not contradict the provisions of civil law, any form of unjustly taking and keeping the property of others is against the seventh commandment: thus, deliberate retention of goods lent or of objects lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages; forcing up prices by taking advantage of the ignorance or hardship of another. (Compare Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Deut 24:14-15; James 5:4; Amos 8:4-6.)¹⁹² --CCC

428 WHAT IS THEFT?

YOUCAT Lesson 428

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

428  What is theft, and what falls under the Seventh Commandment?

Theft is the unlawful appropriation of goods belonging to another.  [2408-2409]

Devastation at St. Maarten Island is easily seen in this photo. Here, as in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, people must forage and take food, water and shelter for basic survival of families and the community wherever it is found. Wikipedia photo. ..... 428

 Appropriating someone else’s goods unjustly is a sin against the Seventh Commandment even if the act cannot be indicted under civil law.  What is unjust in God’s sight is unjust.  The Seventh Commandment, of course, applies not only to stealing, but also to the unfair withholding of a just wage, the keeping of found items that one could give back, and defrauding in general.  The Seventh Commandment also pertains to the following: setting employees to work in inhumane conditions, not abiding by contracts into which one has entered, wasting profits without any consideration for social obligations, artificially driving prices up or down, endangering the jobs of colleagues for whom one is responsible, bribery and corruption, misleading dependent coworkers into illegal actions, doing shoddy work or demanding inappropriate remuneration, wasting or negligently managing public property, counterfeiting or falsifying accounting records, or tax evasion.

In his social encyclical Populorum Progressio (PP), Pope Paul VI established the central principle that “programs designed to increase productivity should have but one aim: to serve human nature” (PP 34).  He rejects all notions of “profit as the chief spur to economic progress, free competition as the guiding norm of economics, and private ownership of the means of production as an absolute right, having no limits or concomitant social obligations.”

  

[2408-2409]

 2408 The seventh commandment forbids theft, that is, usurping another's property against the reasonable will of the owner. There is no theft if consent can be presumed or if refusal is contrary to reason and the universal destination of goods. This is the case in obvious and urgent necessity when the only way to provide for immediate, essential needs (food, shelter, clothing . . .) is to put at one's disposal and use the property of others. (Compare Gaudium et Spes 69 § 1.)¹⁹¹  –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

 2409 Even if it does not contradict the provisions of civil law, any form of unjustly taking and keeping the property of others is against the seventh commandment: thus, deliberate retention of goods lent or of objects lost; business fraud; paying unjust wages; forcing up prices by taking advantage of the ignorance or hardship of another. (Compare Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Deut 24:14-15; James 5:4; Amos 8:4-6.)¹⁹² –CCC

 The following are also morally illicit: speculation in which one contrives to manipulate the price of goods artificially in order to gain an advantage to the detriment of others; corruption in which one influences the judgment of those who must make decisions according to law; appropriation and use for private purposes of the common goods of an enterprise; work poorly done; tax evasion; forgery of checks and invoices; excessive expenses and waste. Willfully damaging private or public property is contrary to the moral law and requires reparation. --CCC