The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today contrast the example of times when we are loyal and trustworthy with those when we are distracted by concern over our personal wealth.
Faithful Helpers
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans contains greetings to his faithful helpers and a final Doxology.
* [16:25] Paul’s gospel reveals the mystery kept secret for long ages: justification and salvation through faith, with all the implications for Jews and Gentiles that Paul has developed in the letter.1
Psalm 145 praises the Greatness and the Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity.2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus applies the parable of the dishonest steward as He praises the Law and the Kingdom of God.
* [16:13] The third conclusion is a general statement about 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 (Lk 12:22–39). God and mammon: see note on Lk 16:9. Mammon is used here as if it were itself a god.3
Cindy Costanzo connects fears she has of not having enough money to retire, fears of not meeting the obligations of her position, fears of not providing for her family, fears of not meeting expectations to her attraction to “mammon”. She shares the contemporary version of the First Principle and Foundation from the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola by David Fleming, S.J. which she believes is a great morning prayer.
“The goal of our life is to live with God forever. God, who loves us, gave us life. Our own response of love allows God’s life to flow into us without limit. All the things in this world are gifts of God, presented to us so that we can know God more easily and make a return of love more readily. As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God insofar as they help us develop as loving persons. But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives, they displace God and so hinder our growth toward our goal. In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance before all of these created gifts insofar as we have a choice and are not bound by some obligation. We should not fix our desires on health or sickness, wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or a short one. For everything has the potential of calling forth in us a deeper response to our life in God. Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening his life in me.”4
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus recommends the foresight, prudence, and ingenuity of the steward,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Mammon is the Hebrew word for 'riches,' just as in Punic the word for 'profit' is mammon. What are we to do? What did the Lord command? 'Make yourselves friends with the mammon of iniquity, so that they too, when you begin to fail, may receive you into eternal shelters.' It is easy, of course, to understand that we must give alms and a helping hand to the needy, because Christ receives it in them... We can understand that we have to give alms and that we must not really pick and choose to whom we give them, because we are unable to sift through people's hearts. When you give alms to all different types of people, then you will reach a few who deserve them. You are hospitable, and you keep your house ready for strangers. Let in the unworthy, in case the worthy might be excluded. You cannot be a judge and sifter of hearts." (excerpt from Sermon 359A.11-12)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 comments that friendships weren’t important only for St. Paul. God doesn’t want any of us to be alone as we journey toward heaven. He created us with a natural longing for friendship, and he wants to help us find faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who can help fill that longing.
Whose names would you include if you were writing a letter like St. Paul’s? Whose witness—past or present—encourages you and helps keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? Take some time in prayer today, not just to remember their names, but also to recall what it is about them that inspires you. Then thank the Lord for each of them and ask him to pour out a special blessing on them. “Thank you, Father, for my brothers and sisters in Christ! Draw us even closer together in you.”6
Friar Jude Winkler suggests the last verses of Romans may have been a cover letter that addressed disciples in Rome and Ephesus. The Gospel underlines the tension between earthly wealth and spiritual wealth. Friar Jude reminds us of the wisdom saying that our excess is robbed from the poor.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service, who is a leader of the “Nuns on the Bus” who advocate for fair and generous federal budgeting, particularly for those on the margins. She is also vocal about her need for a daily contemplative practice of meditation to balance her action on behalf of the common good.
After focusing on becoming present, I try to be open and listen through my body to the Divine. Sometimes, it is good to have a word or mantra to use as I breathe. It gives my mind a focus while I try to be open. This mantra can be an expression of desire or spiritual openness. Trust what comes to mind and breathe with the word(s). . . .Do not expect fireworks in this form of meditation. Most days are very quiet. Every now and then there might be some insight or awareness that is important and sets a direction. However, know that the consistent practice brings a profound openness to others and a willingness to risk for the common good.7
As we contemplate our attention to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor we seek inspiration of the Spirit to guide our Way.
References
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