[Salvation]

The Place of Money

 

by Food For Thought on November 10, 2012 · 

 

Reading 1 Phil 4:10-19

Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a And 9

Gospel Lk 16:9-15

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us how he views money. For Jesus, money is a little thing. What is important for Jesus is eternal life: divine goods, spiritual riches. Jesus advises us to be good managers, responsible stewards of money, so that we may be worthy of managing more important affairs of a spiritual order.

For Jesus, money is often a symbol of dishonesty. Jesus simply agrees with popular common sense. Money, which is difficult to acquire and the consequence of work, may have perhaps been the fruit of oppression, and miserliness. Dishonesty is, in this matter, especially serious, for it deprives others of what is theirs by right.

For Jesus, he prefers that money be used to serve others and thus become a symbol of love. This ultimately is the deepest meaning of the parable of the cunning manager. Jesus seems to be telling us: so much the better if your treasure chest is getting filled, provided it gets empty in the service of God and people.

Jesus does not want a little, He wants All

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Saturday, November 10, 2012 >>

Pope St. Leo the Great

Philippians 4:10-19
View Readings

Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 8-9

Luke 16:9-15

RETURN TO SENDER

"Not a single congregation except yourselves shared with me by giving me something for what it had received." —Philippians 4:15

When we receive something from the Lord and from His people, we open an account (Phil 4:17). We need to give something for what we have received. We are responsible to respond. For example, Jesus expected the ten lepers, whom He healed, to respond by returning to Him and thanking Him (Lk 17:17-18). He expects us to do something with what He has given us (see Mt 25:14ff). The Christian life is a matter of loving the Lord "because He first loved us" (1 Jn 4:19).

The Christian life is not so much getting something done, but responding in love and thanksgiving to the One Who has done all that is good. Thus, Christianity is centered on the Lord. Each day, our goal is to please Him. We are living for an audience of one, that is, the Lord. We do not need to achieve anything by the standards of the world. We do not need to please others (see Gal 1:10). Our lives are for the purpose of responding to the Lord. Each of us must constantly ask the question: "How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me?" (Ps 116:12) Make a return to the Lord.

Prayer: Father, may I love You back.

Promise: "Make friends for yourselves through your use of this world's goods, so that when they fail you, a lasting reception will be yours." —Lk 16:9

Praise: Pope St. Leo had a profound supernatural gift of administration, which was a hallmark of his papacy. "The first requirement of an administrator is that he prove trustworthy" (1 Cor 4:2). He defended the faith for two decades as a faithful administrator of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1).