Saturday, 31st week in Ordinary time
November 10, 2018: Philippians 4: 10-19; Luke 16: 9-15
Wealth: is it good or bad? Money and God...won't they go together? Then how do we ask God for wealth and consider prosperity as a blessing from God? The readings today speak to us about the right attitude to take towards wealth.
1. Wealth is given.
It is a gift and should be treated as such. We are given and it should fill us with gratitude and not arrogance. If it is given it can leave us anytime, and therefore a bit of detachment from it is safe!
2. Wealth is given to be given.
It is never given for yourself...you are a custodian of what is with you. You possessing the wealth is a blessing; the wealth possessing you is a curse, beware! I have seen persons around who, as soon as something substantial arrives, start planning the various beneficiaries and due recipients! What a blessed attitude!
3. Wealth is given to be given to those who cannot give.
The only purpose wealth is used today, apart from fulfilment of needs, is to make more wealth. It is a sickening tendency that is the cause of the growing selfishness, cruel exploitation and demeaning inhumanities. Wealth for its own sake is a sickness, a gruesome sickness!
Wealth and power are good as long as they are used as instruments for good. When they begin to use the persons dehumanisation begins! God sees the heart, says the Gospel; and everyone will see a heart that is filled with God!