Reflection:
You cannot serve both God and mammon.
-Luke 16:13
“Show me your datebook and your checkbook and I will show you your values.” Our readings today are about having the appropriate priorities and consistently living our core values. In our first reading, Amos, from the Southern Kingdom, is not a professional prophet but a farmer called by God to make prophecies regarding the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Amos criticizes the wealthy for using dishonest scales and enslaving the poor. Unfair business practices and injustices to the poor will be judged by God. The responsorial psalm proclaims, “Praise be to God who raises up the poor”.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable about a dishonest steward who is commended for his prudence; one cannot serve both God and money. In the Bible, “mammon” is an Aramaic word that means riches and wealth. The steward was dishonest because he was charging interest to line his own pockets and not putting his employer before himself. The steward puts aside his greed to take care of his employer. There are several lessons from today’s readings for the Christian.
First, the Christian must be prudent about the accumulation and use of wealth. Budgets whether personal, family or business budgets are important theological, moral and value statements.
–Loyola Press
Second is we must be trusted in the small things so we can also be trusted with the affairs of God’s kingdom. Jesus tells us we cannot serve two masters. God must be put ahead of a job and making money.
–Loyola Press
The ethical and critical question for us is how do we spend our time and money? Do our priorities and value system really put God first? Lord give us the grace this week to take one action that shows our family serves God and not money.
