Trading Up

One of the dangers in living in this technological and materialistic culture is that we become what Pope Francis refers to as a ‘throw away’ society.  We become focused on things rather than people... accomplishments and applause above all else.  People become dispensable and people who cannot care for themselves: disposable.

We might also be familiar with the term ‘trading up’ – the acquiring of something new, ultra-modern and savvy while getting rid of the 'obsolete' and 'outdated'.  There is pressure in today’s society to ‘trade-up’ – to move from one income bracket to the next – accompanied by new friends from that higher income bracket – even at the expense of what is seen as ‘the old’. 

Jesus gives us an opposing witness when he encounters the wise scribe in today’s gospel.  It would have been the ideal opportunity to ‘trade up’ – to give the boot to one of the other apostles (pick any one of them…practically all of them were mere labourers – none of them had the qualifications or theological or oratorical pedigree to match this scribe.  And yet Jesus does not do it.  He does not add the most talented person in the room to his ‘team’.  He doesn’t 'trade up'.  And he doesn’t sell out.  He compliments the scribe but that’s as far as he goes.  And he leaves town with his original twelve, the fishermen, the tax collector and the zealot – all utterly inferior as far as training and natural talent go for the task of preaching the gospel and teaching the faith.

What about the people with whom we share our lives?  Are we merely tolerating them until someone more talented, more charming, more charismatic, more intelligent, more spiritual comes along?  If so, we might consider what Jesus’ witness today means for us…it might leave us as surprised as the ‘wise scribe’ must have been in Jesus’ presence.