Bible on riches, justice, etc
(for sayings of church fathers & popes, read CST-1)
On riches & possessionsMatthew 6:31-33
So do not worry, saying "what shall we eat or drink or wear? For the pagans run after these things... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well."
Matthew 19:21-24 [first time]
Jesus answered [the rich young man]: "If you want to be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad because he had great wealth. The Jesus said to his disciples: "It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Mark 4:18,19
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 10:21-25 [second time]
Jesus looked at him [rich young man] and said: "Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come , follow me." At this, the man's face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 6:20,24
Blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... but alas for you who re rich, you have already received your reward.
Luke 12:15-34
Jesus said: "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."... "Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink... For the pagan world runs after all such things... Seek his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well." ..."Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke 16:13-15
"No servant can serve two masters... you cannot serve both God and Money... What is highly valued among them is detestable in God's sight." [Vs 19-31 is the story of the rich man & Lazarus]
Luke 18:22-25 [third time]
Jesus said [to the rich ruler]: "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus said: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
James 5:1-6
Listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded... You have hoarded wealth in the last days. The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you... You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence... You have condemned and murdered innocent men who were not opposing you.
1 John 4:17,18
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
Acts 4:32
No claimed that any of the possessions were his own; they shared everything they had.
St Paul 2 Corinthians 8:14
For now, your surplus meets their need but one day your need may be met from their surplus. The aim is equality.
On justice & oppression
Zechariah 7:8-10
The Lord spoke again to Zechariah: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Dp not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts, do not think evil of each other."
Malachi 3:5
The Lord Almighty says: "I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud labourers of their wages, who oppress the widows and fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice..."
Matthew 25:41-46
The he will say to those on the left: "Depart from me you cursed into the eternal fire... For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me. I was suck and in prison and you did not look after me."... "Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Luke 3:11
John (the Baptist) answered: "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, the release the oppressed, to proclaim the of the Lord's favour."`
Luke 14:13,14
When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Luke 18:6-8
And the Lord said: "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? I tell you, he will see they get justice and quickly..."
References
1. Voices from the Margin (Orbis 1995)
-
RS Sugirthrajah (Ed), Introduction, SJ Samartha, Chap 1