Daily Catholic Lectio
Saturday, 11 November 2023
Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27. Luke 16:9-15
Serving God or Wealth?
“The riches, when treated as means, help us grow; but, when treated as ends, they destroy us.”
The word ‘wealth’ and its cognates ‘riches,’ and ‘money’ are used thrice in the gospel reading of the day: (a) ‘Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth,’ (b) ‘Who will entrust you with the true riches?’, and (c) ‘You cannot serve God and money.’
(a) Wealth is a utility object
Jesus teaches us that wealth is a means, not an end. Wealth, which is perishable by nature, can be converted into imperishable relationships if we know how to use it.
(b) Unrighteous wealth vs. true riches
The expression ‘true riches’ refers to the kingdom as per the context. It is a prerequisite that one become an expert at handling unrighteous wealth before handling true riches. Jesus also makes a distinction between ‘little’ and ‘much.’ Unrighteous wealth is ‘little’; ‘true riches’ is’much.’ By being faithful to a little, one rises to be faithful to much.
(c) Wealth as opposed to God
Wealth and God are in opposition to each other, for wealth has the ability to become one’s master if care is not taken. Wealth offers us self-reliance that may alienate us from God.
Luke qualifies the Pharisees as ‘lovers of money.’ The Pharisees preached that a righteous person is blessed with wealth (the prosperity gospel). But they failed to live by that principle. Jesus warns that wealth may exalt us among men, but this is abhorrent to God.
Paul, as he concludes his letter to the Romans, remembers and thanks God for all those who worked with him. Paul considers human resources his prime wealth.
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‘The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting on the Tenth Commandment, instructs that greed is prior to the action of accumulating wealth and recommends that greed be curtailed. It warns that ‘poverty of heart’ is an antidote to self-reliance.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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