Wealth

Today’s Gospel Text:  "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' Matt 25:14-30

Reflection: “It is my hard earned money” This is normally the term often heard and in various ways it is expressed, all meaning the same.

Surely, there are some who work hard for their bread and butter and to keep enough for a better future for themselves and for their children’s or for their luxury.

In the world there will always be the haves and the have not’s and among these have-nots there may be some who may have made a choice to deprive themselves either miserly or by their generosity.

Does a man have a right to indiscriminately enjoy the fruit of his hard labor? It is a question which has often found critics and the sincerely rich have found unwanted enemies.

Why should they who have much have a right to live in the luxuries of life and in many a case the much may  have been only inherited wealth? 

Indeed they have labored hard and struggled for it, so as to enjoy the fruit thereof but does it mean that the poor never labor hard and struggle their every bit?

The gospel passage reminds us that God is the giver of all talents and it is he who gives us the ability to make wealth. (cfr. Duet. 8:18)

Though in the gospel passage it especially means the spiritual dimension of the talent which God is bestowing on his servants, to be worked on and bring about an increase yet, this also holds true for all that we possess.

What is it that we have or posses that has not come from the creator above? If we understand the truth herein then it would also be a step towards a humility that pleases God. 

For all that we have, including our body, mind and soul comes from God and so too the ability to make wealth.

Therefore, Man humble yourself before the almighty God and "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Mark 12:17

Remember, your property and talent comes from God and belongs to him and your hard work or labor should be aimed at pleasing him rather than yourselves; for this is the way to perfection.

Prayer: Lord, help me to realize that, all that I posses and have, including the spiritual gifts, comes from you and is to be used for your glory alone.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Covetousness

Today’s Gospel Text: One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17 and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18 And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:13-21

Reflection: "Extreme desires about what does not belong to you," that’s what covetousness is all about!

Who could that covetous character be in the gospel story? Was it the man who wanted his brother to divide the inheritance or the man who asked Jesus to be the arbiter to divide the property?

It could be either, yet what is important is that things may not belong to us and yet we may be covetous about life and situations.

We could be covetous about other people’s property or wealth or belongings or we could be covetous about other people’s gifts and talents or we could be covetous about the clothing’s of others.

In the spiritual realm, we could be covetous about other people’s spiritual gifts or we could be covetous about their positions and power or the privileges they enjoy on account of their positions. The later could exist even in the secular world, which often leads to work place politicking.

We could be covetous about the creative actions of others too.

In all these things, the real problem arises when one degrades oneself to such an extent that they would find their identity in having much rather then in being; as for us Christians it is a being that is reconciled with God in Christ Jesus.

Ones life is made up by the abundance of God’s grace offered to us freely through faith by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Further, this life can only progress as we attach ourselves more and more to him by being detached from the worldly attachments of sin and bondages.

Prayer: God our Father, free your children from every bondage of covetousness and possessions, so as to walk freely in your grace.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Ownership

Today’s Gospel Text: And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" 4 They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." 5 But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." 10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." 13 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them. Mark 10:2-16

Reflection: Garbage generated in his own house is equally a man’s property just as much as precious gold kept in safe custody by him.

One will be disposed off as rubbish while the other could be preserved for posterity. One could be treated with disdain while the other could be treated with great care and concern.

Ever since the advent of the Marxist concept of 'ownership of goods and properties', there has been a certain look of disdain on this concept of ownership and this destructive heresy has been carried on to the sphere of family by certain women rights group and feminist. 

Ownership of one another is not a bad word but can be a beautiful relationship in an hostile world which also preserves the values of right relationships and ideal families; for instance, a man preserving it through sustenance and caring and the woman though her care and filial love.  Jealousy manifested in the right way can be an important ingredient in such a relationship of ownership.

This ownership is carried on with children, from parent and is always a clear message of precaution to society not to tread or envy what belongs to someone else. It is a message to treat with respect the goods and valuables of others; a message embedded deep in the conscience of every human being and not to be censored by them.

It carries the values of society forward and gives society a stable existence that is lasting.

If not then we could have a society where just as commodities and money change hands so too there could be the constant change which depreciates the value of such commodities. 

We could see it happening in relationships that are not based on sound values, including the value of ownership.

Prayer: Lord, you who consider us as your own through baptism, help us to value and respect the relationships which you have ordained for humans in order to preserve them in your love.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us