The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Simon Boiser SVD – Germany
Wednesday 13th Week in Ordinary Time
An SVD Missionary in Papua New Guinea once described the important role of pigs among the people there. Pigs are not only bred for food, they also represent social values and even have a status symbol. The more pigs an individual has, and the more pigs he can give away, the higher social status in the village he/she has.
It is similar to the value of lechon or roasted pig during Filipino celebrations; it bestows importance on the ocassion and an image of affluence on the host. Pigs symbolize wealth and luck in many cultures. When the Germans says, “Schweingehabt!” (i.e., “you had a pig!”), they actually mean you are lucky.
When Jesus drove out the demons and sent them to the pigs, the people from the territory of Gadarenes perceived it as bad luck and were so afraid of losing more property, so that they asked Jesus to leave their town. The people were more concerned of saving the pigs than helping the possessed men. Valued possessions, investments and even animals seemed more important to them than human life.
Even today, there are many people, whose sole focus in life is only acquiring possessions, attaining status and achieving success. When they say “I am blessed,” they only think of material endowments. They have no idea what a blessing really is.
The German theologian Dieter Bonhoeffer wrote, “The heart clings to collected treasure. Stored up possessions get between me and God. Where my treasure is, there is my trust, my security, my comfort, my God. Treasure means idolatry.”
Material things bring only worry and concern; the true owner of everything is our Creator. God does not look at your appearance and possessions, he looks into your heart and at your deeds.
