Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano of Long Island has written about the current disputes between some state governments and their unions. He warns that religious rhetoricis being used to distract the people of God from the real issues of justice and the stewardship of our society’s resources..
Our political leaders need to be reminded that scapegoating is sinful. Is it too convenient in our society to lay the blame for mismanagement, poor fiscal oversight, and outright greed on the people least responsible for the problem?
In ancient Israel the sins of the people were symbolically laid on the head of an innocent goat, which then was sent out in the wilderness carrying the burden of the sins of all (Leviticus 16: 8-26). Today, leaders in our nation are willing to cut needed programs and services to the most needy among us while scapegoating our public servants in an effort to be relieved of the sins of others.
Jim Wallis and the people at Sojourners have asked the prophetic question: “What would Jesus cut?” It is a profound question that can help bring into sharper and more genuine focus the entire concept of public service. Who is to be served, and by whom? The answer to this question can no longer be taken for granted among us.
The ancient Greeks called public works “?e?t?????a,” transliterated “leitourgia.” In our language we render the word as ‘liturgy’, a term now more commonly understood as an act of public worship. In either case it means ‘a work of the people.’ What if we examined the present debate under the lens of liturgy? What is the real work of the people? Which do you think would then be cut to save dollars: the liturgy of the police officer, the firefighter, the teacher in the over-crowded classroom, or that of the political leader? Which work of the people is more faithful and deserving of our public dollars, our support and faithful stewardship? In my thinking and prayer we could use a lot fewer “rising political stars” bending to the people who actually caused the fiscal crisis by their greed, and a whole lot more teachers, cops and firefighters.
It is time for faith and action to meet in a meaningful way. It is time for faithful people to stand up to the veneer of religious rhetoric that is being used to distract the people of God from the real issues. Ask yourself as the budget debates continue near and far: What, indeed would Jesus cut?