ALL ABOUT MONEY - 25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (9/18/2022)

25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
​September 18, 2022


​Amos 8:4-7
​Psalm 113
​1 Timothy 2:1-8
​Luke 16:1-13

ALL ABOUT MONEY

What topic did Jesus speak about the most? One author proposed a somewhat surprising answer - money...and the use of it! Actually, I think the correct answer is the Kingdom of God, but the fact is, Jesus did speak quite a lot about money, greed, care for the poor, etc... We have an example of that today.

AMOS

The first reading today is from Amos, the earliest writing prophet. He was originally from the southern Kingdom of Judah but prophesied in the northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BC. Before being called to the prophetic ministry, Amos was a sheepherder and tender of sycamore fruits (cf. Amos 7:14).

In today's reading, Amos is preaching against those who "trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land." He mocks those who can't wait for the religious observances of the new moon and the sabbath to be over in order to engage in business - and unjust business at that!

Amos here condemns the cheating in commerce and the enslaving of the poor in debt that is going on in Israel. He threatens them: "The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done." The Responsorial, Psalm 113, reinforces this: "Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor."

GOSPEL

Yes, Jesus does have a good bit to say about the right use of money. Throughout the gospels, he issues a number of warnings about the hazards posed by wealth, riches, and worldly possessions. Today's gospel reading is one such warning. At the same time, Jesus points out that "the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of the light." That is to say, they show more shrewdness in temporal matters than the children of the light show regarding matters of eternal importance and consequence.

Jesus then gives three principles of wisdom and wise acting, which deserve particular attention:

First: The way we act in small matters is the way we will act in greater ones.
Second: The way we act with material things is the way we will act in spiritual matters.
Third: The way we manage the property of another will determine whether or not we receive anything of our own to manage.

Today's gospel concludes with Jesus' warning that "No servant can serve two masters." Jesus applies this to God and mammon (money, riches, material things). The point is that if we are mastered by mammon, we cannot truly serve God.

1 TIMOTHY

Our second reading is from the pastoral letter of 1 Timothy. Today's selection concerns guidelines for intercessory prayer. The priority in prayer is given to those in authority, because their decisions and actions can affect and influence so many people.

The letter states the important principle of God's salvific will: "(God) wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." It also states that there is one God and "one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all."

St. Paul continues by referring to himself as a "preacher and apostle...teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." He concludes this selection by exhorting the men to pray with uplifted hands "without anger or argument." (One can't help but wonder why Paul felt the need to add these words to the men!)

MONEY, PRAYER, AND PRACTICAL LESSONS

Today's readings give some very practical lessons about money, treatment of the poor, praying for those in authority, and the way to live our life. The Scriptures are words of life and hope for us. They are also words of truth and wisdom, teaching us the best way to navigate through this life as we make our way homeward toward heaven. May the Holy Spirit help us to take them to heart!