Lk 16:9-15
And so I tell you: use filthy money to make friends for yourselves, so that, when it fails, these people may welcome you into the eternal homes.
Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be trusted in great ones; whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dishonest in greater ones. So if you have been dishonest in handling filthy money, who would entrust you with true wealth? And if you have been dishonest with things that are not really yours, who will give you that wealth which is truly your own?
No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not like the one and is fond of the other, or he regards one highly and the other with contempt. You cannot give yourself both to God and to Money.”
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and sneered at Jesus. He said to them, “You do your best to be considered righteous by people. But God knows the heart, and what is highly esteemed by human beings is loathed by God.
REFLECTION
The Christian use of material goods is very specific following the teachings of Jesus. Let us summarize the Gospel of today.
First, we can convert our guilty money as means of salvation through charity, as we see in Zaccheus.
Second, honesty or dishonesty in little things is important. For Jesus, money is not our true wealth because it is destined to be left on earth. Our real treasure is in our immortal soul through our good thoughts, words and deeds.
Third, it is not possible to have two masters: it is God or money. Isn’t this a constant matter of examination of our conscience to know who our true master is? What is the subject matter of our talks? If we are always speaking of money, then it is money. Let us procure it without anxiety.
Fourth, Jesus reacts against Pharisees. They seem so pious, but their heart is so attached to material goods. God looks at this interior attitude and withdraws from them.
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