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

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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