Riches and Wealth

Today’s Gospel Text:  And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25 When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." 27 Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" 28 Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many that are first will be last, and the last first. Matt 19:23-30

Reflection: “Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures forever.” Ps 112:3

These are the blessings the Psalmist proclaims on those who fear the Lord and walks in the wisdom of his commandments. 

Like most of those modern day prosperity gospel preachers most of the Jews always believed that it was a blessing to be rich and a curse to be poor.

No wonder the dedicated disciples found the statement of Jesus shocking and difficult to accept; for they had grown up with a mindset that talked about riches and prosperity for the righteous.

Could they be following Christ Jesus because they saw him as a future investment worth more than gold? By his walk and demeanor, Christ Jesus, was assuredly a pathway to prosperity.  They would have to endure his poverty but for a little while only.

"Who then can be saved?" (vs. 25b) was a statement made by these dedicated disciples, with great astonishment.

It seems that Jesus was really against riches and wealth and against the rich and the wealthy?

We could have riches and wealth and can get so enamored by it that we could end up worshipping them.

We could miss out on the purpose and plan that God has for each one of us; a plan for our happiness and eternity.

But with riches we can create our own world of happiness, apart from God; No wonder money can make people happy but God can do it better; he can make us happy even in the face of want and poverty.

How can any human being be so enamored by the gifts that they forget the giver of all gifts?

Yet this is the greatest reality with humans, they keep gathering up the gifts and likewise treat their children too in the same way.

Prayer: The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot. Ps 16:5

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

Soul Issue

Today’s Gospel Text: Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? 27 For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." Matt 16:24-28

Reflection: The big attractions of life are money, power, wealth, pleasures of life and recognition. 

What will people not exchange in return for these things? The media today gives further impetus to short term popularity and wealth and money.

If one had money then one could even buy these other attractions of life; for such is the power of money and wealth.

No wonder the poor easily get attracted to gambling and lotteries because it fulfills their dreams or some may go for illegal activities or jobs that attracts risks but at the same time an easy windfall of money.

Then there is the cult of power which attracts too; any news concerning the head of state is lapped up easily by the great crowd, so too news concerning great sports star or film stars or great achievers.

An attractive person can get a lot more likes on social networking sites than the less attractive.

Where does a poor wondering mendicant like Jesus fit the bill when it comes to attracting followers for himself?

What is that big attraction in Jesus that we should to go after him?

Yet the audacity of the man to challenge us to follow him, with challenges that least attract in comparison to what the world, with its many attractions has to offer each one of us:

1) Deny yourself

2) Take up your cross

3) then follow him

Why should any sane thinking person risk their precious life in order to follow a person like Jesus?

This is a question which every individual on earth need to ask and better be serious about?

The why of it is clear: Life is the most precious thing than all the allurements and attractions this world can offer.

Prayer:  Lord, I thank you for revealing to us the importance of our soul and the need to save it by following you and your ways.

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

I Thank Thee

Today’s Gospel Text: At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; 26 yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matt 11:25-27

Reflection:  The power of mere word; ‘thank you’ and the beauty thereof, who can describe it?

What can thanks offer in the light of the material goods we offer to people as a symbol of gratitude or what material goods can we compare 'thanks' with? 

Or, let us look at the value a mere ‘thank you’ could hold for people in general, especially in cultures where very few people express it.  

Some cultures may be fortunate to make use of this word very often for every service that is rendered, even when there is no obligation on them to express it.

Sometimes it’s so unfortunate to see the attitude of people, towards a person in paid service, not to be thankful for the good service offered. 

The attitude is generally this; “it is his duty to do so and I am paying for the service”

In other words and in these situations money is the animating factor; I am paying for the services and so why should I show gratitude.

The humaneness and humanity is pushed to a second level or may be even much lower and money, which accompanies pride, is what gains precedence.  We can even safely say that this can only be the attitude of a people whose god is their money.

But the people whose God is the Lord God, and who know from his teachings how to love, will show gratitude and respect the right and dignity of the human person.

Thus they will even show gratitude towards any services rendered to them, even if they have paid for it.

This should be a reminder, that not everyone who serves, serves for the sake of money but serves also for survival or serves because of job satisfaction or some may serve in order to genuinely render a noble service towards a human cause and money may just be a secondary or irrelevant issue with them.

But the beginning of a good heart that is genuinely grateful is the one that always seeks to render thanks and even praise to his maker, by first seeking and recognizing the one true God, the giver of all things that is good for us and for our salvation. 

Christ Jesus served us by giving himself totally to serve us, even unto death, so that we may be saved from eternal doom. 

Prayer:  Lord, may I never fail to thank thee for revealing to me the hidden mystery in Christ Jesus and all that you still provide for our good through his saving action.

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

God our Rock

Today’s Gospel Text: "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. John 14:1-6

Reflection: The mystery of the human heart which seeks its own security amidst the vagaries of life is baffling, many a times in ways unknown to them.

We could be insecure about the deep inner need to be loved and accepted by others. This want could be sought out by seeking the approval of people in authority:  Thus you have the politicking in the work environment seeking to grab attention of the higher ups and their approvals.

This could be manifest with overtones of jealousy and envy which can result in severe damage to the victims of such a lash out.

All these expressions only communicate the deep inner need of every human being gone astray or manifesting uncontrollably.

Likewise this insecurity could lead us into acts and behavior patterns contrary to the normal standards of society. It could even be bouts of attention seeking behavior or other forms of it.

Some who know the art do excellently well in fields of learning, sports and other extra-curricular activities and some even seem secure in their achievements.   

It is as if they have found their security and are at peace, as long as no one challenges them. The moment they are challenged or find a competitor challenging their positions they become insecure.

Money, wealth and assets add well towards the satisfaction of these deep insecurities. The more smoothly they keep flowing in ever increasing ratio the greater the satisfaction. 

Those who are insecure could exhibit frustration and irritation, leading to addictive bondage's and they find it difficult to cope with challenges of acceptability.

God knows best that every individual goes through these inordinate desire for a sense of security and in order that we do not seek it in the wrong and sinful things of life he gives us Jesus as our firm rock to rest securely on.

Every assurance of Jesus, including the one in today gospel is aimed at making us secure with the right kind of vision and happiness in life:  "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.” (vs.1)

Prayer: Incline thy ear to me, rescue me speedily! Be thou a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! Ps 31:2

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

Betrayal

Today’s Gospel Text:  Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the passover?" 18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.'" 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover.  20 When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples; 21 and as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" 23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. 24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" He said to him, "You have said so." Matt 26:14-25

Reflection: What is the difference between these two actions: trading in slaves and what Judas did to Jesus?

A slave is one whose right is forcibly taken away by another and hence is sold in order that he may become the property of the one who has legally owned them. They can do with them what they want. 

The scripture gives us enough evidence of Judases greed, which primarily may not have been a greed for power or domination but rather a greed for wealth, which led him to trade with his very own Lord and master, whose humble ways are within the powers of men to manipulate in this life.   

Could it be that he opted to be in charge of the money box and the financial management of the little institution on account of his greedy habit of pilfering? 

But he did achieve, in his greed, to sell-off as a slave one of the most innocent and yet the most unassuming powerful man in the history of mankind:

"What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" (vs. 15)

What right did he have to deliver him to him? Was he the owner of Jesus or was he his father or was it the other way around?

Where do human's get such strength to trade with their God; the Lord and master of the universe? 

How greed, ambition,  craving for power and the things of the world; whether it be worldly glory, honor or positions, leads one to such depraved mindset wherein which they begin to assert their rights over the other. Worse is when they do it with even God. 

Some do it under the acceptable democratic institutions and some even by using their power and positions in the church:

Was Judas not holding similar position of power and authority in the church? How then did he become an instrument of Satan?

Did he not eat of the same table, what some may obstinately claim as to be the meal of unity, and yet betray, thus separating himself from the unity of the body of Christ?

He had the best teacher in Christ, whom he followed and yet followed himself more than Jesus.

A thing to ponder upon, this holy week, as we labor in the vineyard of Christ.

Prayer:  Lord God, as I reflect on the betrayal of Judas, I dread to think of the frail human possibilities laboring without your great mercy and help.

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

The giving of God

Scripture: He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. 3 And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had." Luke 21:1-4

Reflection: Mercy, compassion and love; if we get our priorities wrong then we could be following a socialist or Marxist Gospel. 

We know him as Christ and hence we may never look at this way; he is encouraging the poor to contribute all their living.  Ah! It sounds scandalous and doesn’t seem to go along with what we know of Christ.

But those who know God and what he is capable of and have God as their priority then these things will never scandalize them. But those who go by human priorities then this action of Jesus can stand condemned like his other actions.  Human Priorities over divine priorities is fraught with eternal danger.

To give is to communicate absolute trust in the divine and let no one test the faith of the absolute giver.  Though not every form of giving is on account of faith in God but the giving of faith is the supreme giving and it witnesses to the supreme giving of God in Christ Jesus. (Jn. 3:16)

Prayer:  Lord, let me know you and thus seek to give as you have given us.

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

Eternal Friends

Scripture: And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations. Luke 16:9

Reflection:  Is Jesus suggesting that we make wealth which is dishonest or is it that wealth in itself is a dishonest gain?  Could be the former is true but the latter is a greater truth? 

There is an unrighteous mammon and equally true is the fact of a righteous God. The fruit of serving a righteous God is righteous wealth but the fruit of serving an unrighteous mammon is unrighteous wealth.  One is gained through a labor of greed, want, insecurity and the other is gained through a labor of love and perseverance, grace and mercy. One is gained through great self confidence and the other is gained through confidence in God.  That which is gained through lack of trust in God has to be shared with those who trust in God’s providence; though God can accomplish his power of providence apart from us.

In sharing with those who trust in God, and thus are poor on account of this choice, we are gathering up friends who will receive us into eternal habitations.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, our eternal friend, teach and strengthen us to gather friends who share your wealth of eternity.

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