Prophet Amos and Luke the Evangelist draw our attention to the reality of the corruption and dishonesty in our economic system-to the fact that the powerful often take advantage of the poor, exploit their labour for their own gain, and manipulate the economic system to their own advantage. Now, honest workers must find ways to survive the challenges of inflation, shortages in housing, limited employment opportunities, and vast differences of relating between the powerful and the poor. The abuse of trust is corrupting every good intention. Ponder, is the prayer for everyone as summoned by Paul to Timothy being corrupted as well?

God, through the prophet Amos, excoriated the rich and powerful of Israel for the injustices they inflicted on the poor of the nation for whom God had set down laws to ensure that they are justly treated. Jesus, in Luke's Gospel, relates a parable which highlights the injustice committed by a steward and goes on to discuss the dangers of materialism. Materialism threatens to displace our attention and energies away from trusting God and distances us away from a life of submission to His providence for everyone. Jesus' words are alarming, ''You cannot serve both God and mammon!" (v13). All resources are means for service to the common good aligned with the laws and desires of God. The duty to witness trust in service is all the more urgent now. Beware Judas Iscariot's corrupted gain, it paves a suicidal end.