Gospel LK 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 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? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God."

Reflection:

I often ask myself, do I worship money or hold it in such high esteem to make it my God? Much like people today, the Pharisees loved money and all the benefits it brought them. People who have money use their time making it and enjoy spending it. This can consume them to where their lives are spent working, playing, and saving money to ensure they can continue their life-style. Unfortunately for many, God has been pushed aside for this cycle of consumption and pleasure. It doesn’t happen overnight, but before you know it, your life is governed by financial decisions.

None of us want to think we push God aside for wealth. However, many of us have been brought up doing just that. Mass, adoration or time praying is secondary to entertainment and pleasures of this world. We should not be justifying ourselves with our choices, but setting our sight on what God holds in high esteem. Jesus said, “for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Our human nature is so different from God because he esteems the lowly and humble. He sees how the poor in spirit empty themselves out to allow God to dwell within. God gives gifts of patience, purity, love, humility, and obedience to those who put God first in their lives. They live for the next life where money has no value. We must ask ourselves, how does God look at what I hold in high esteem?