Wealth as cross

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” (From today’s Gospel reading, Mk. 8: 27-35.)

This formula for oneness with Christ was not only preached and taught to us, his disciples. Christ showed us the way by living it himself. And all of it was done for the love of God and one’s neighbor.

There are many ways of “taking up one’s cross” for the love of God and one’s neighbor. The sacrificing of one’s self — one’s time, talents, and treasures — for the sake of love and justice is the only meaning of human life, according to God’s designs. Sacrificing one’s self for the sake of the common good is what we urgently need in our country today. One such inspiring example is the person of Sen. Mar Roxas. At the height of preparing for the 2010 elections as a presidential candidate, including a series of “infomercials,” he humbly gave way to Sen. Noynoy Aquino for the sake of unity and the common good of our country. In his own words, addressed to all of us:

“Ito na ang pinakamabigat na desisyon sa buhay ko. Maniwala man kayo o hindi, ginawa ko ito para sa bayan, para sa inyo….Mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Mahal na mahal ko po ang ating bayan. Hindi rin tayo maghihiwalay. Itutuloy natin ang pagbabago sa ating bansa. Itutuloy natin ang laban para sa reporma….Kay Noy, at sa aking mga kababayan: Country above self! Bayan bago sarili. Hindi ko kayo pababayaan! Lalaban tayo!” He will fearlessly work for “clean, honest, selfless public service.”

Call it sheer coincidence or whatever, but some days before this decision of Sen. Mar Roxas, the Forbes magazine came out with a list of the 40 richest persons in our country, many of whom are well-known taipans and tycoons who even became richer this past year. In the case of quite a number of them, the HOW they accumulate their riches and the HOW they use these riches are morally questionable.

For instance, I am told that in the case of a well-known chain of malls, many of the employees are hired as casuals, and after five or six months, they are dismissed and new casuals are hired. By not promoting them to be regular employees, the mall owners keep on hiring casuals every five or six months, thus saving those super-wealthy mall owners from increasing their salaries as regular employees, and giving them the usual benefits as required by law.

God’s mission for the rich is to be stewards of their riches, which ultimately belong to God in the first place. Thus, riches are to be used for the benefit of all, according to the God-given law of social justice, which is no less than love of neighbor. The rich must discern how to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Christ. In other words: Wealth and riches are a cross to be carried for the sake of those who need those wealth and riches even more — the poor, the underprivileged, the underpaid, the casual workers who need to be regular employees, and others. Following today’s Gospel teaching, the rich and wealthy have a far greater cross to carry, if they really want to be disciples of Christ and reach eternal peace with the Lord at the end of their lives. To be blessed with riches is indeed a privilege and at the same time a tremendous responsibility.

“How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Lk. 18: 24-25). But with an all-compassionate and forgiving God, it is not only possible to reach God’s kingdom, it is doable. A conversion of heart is the answer.

A very timely bill was recently proposed in Congress by Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel. It is entitled “An Act to Strengthen Security of Tenure and Promoting Regular Employment and for that Purpose, Amending Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 442.” The explanatory note says that “the present proposal recognizes subcontracting as a valid business practice but also protects workers from unscrupulous and unnecessary subcontracting. Hence, it balances legitimate business interests with the need to protect workers from insecure employment conditions.”

Furthermore, amendments to the Labor Code are part of the proposed bill, and “seeks to balance the legitimate business interests of the employer with the need for protection of workers from the prejudice of non-regularization. After all, for as long as the employer profits through and by the labor of employees, it is but fair to recognize the workers’ right to remain employed absent any legal cause for his dismissal.”

Let us pray for the approval of this bill by our Congressmen, Senators, and our President, especially those among them who are themselves wealthy. Amen.

“It is necessary to state once more the characteristic principle of Christian social doctrine: The goods of this world are originally meant for all.” (From Pope John Paul II, Encyclical on Social Concerns).