The
person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great
ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest
in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who
will trust you with true wealth? Luke 16:10-11
Piety
Jesus Christ became poor although he was
rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Study
Today Luke focuses his laser on wealth once
again pointing out the incompatibility of serving God and being a slave to
riches. “To be dependent upon wealth is opposed to the teachings of Jesus who
counseled complete dependence on the Father as one of the characteristics of
the Christian disciple.”
Guarding against greed and choosing
generosity instead is a theme woven throughout Luke’s Good News. From the very first chapter in the Canticle
of Mary, we hear: “He has thrown down
the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled
with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.” (Luke 1:52-53). The theme plays itself out in many stories – the
good Samaritan, the rich man and Lazarus, the poor widow, the good steward, the
Pharisee and the tax collector, etc.
If we are to be good disciples, them our
attitude about money must mirror the attitude of Jesus. Being trustworthy in today’s reading means
using money correctly and not giving in to blind greed. Dishonest wealth and how we use it prevents us
from being open to helping others and from being open to the gifts God wants to
provide to us. To be trusted with true
wealth, we must handle the small issues that arise every day to be generous
because we cannot love both God and money.
Action
What role does money (lack of it or abundance
of it) play in your life? It manifests itself
in our possessions, in our bank and retirement accounts, and in our charitable
behavior. As we approach the end of the year,
have you made a plan for your volunteer work over the holidays and your
charitable giving plans?
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