Restricted by Riches

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine how our material wealth concerns may be restricting our ability to know and live in the peace and security of the siblings of Jesus.

Weakness of Wealth

The Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel assesses the “wealth” of the Prince of Tyre.

* [28:1–10] Ezekiel mocks the arrogance of Tyre’s leader, who mistakes the city’s commercial success for evidence of his divinity. At the hands of a foreign army, commissioned by the only God worthy of the name, this leader dies a humiliating, unceremonious death.

* [28:3] Wiser than Daniel: see note on 14:14. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB, n.d.)

The response from the Book of Deuteronomy declares the Lord’s honor will be vindicated.

* [32:1–43] The whole song is a poetic sermon, having for its theme the Lord’s benefits to Israel (vv. 1–14) and Israel’s ingratitude and idolatry in turning to the gods of the nations; these sins will be punished by the nations themselves (vv. 15–29); in turn, the foolish pride of the nations will be punished, and the Lord’s honor will be vindicated (vv. 30–43).

* [32:28–35] The reference is to the nations, not to Israel.

* [32:36] Neither bond nor free: an all-inclusive expression; cf. 1 Kgs 14:10; 2 Kgs 9:8. (Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew declares all who respond to the call of Jesus will be the same in respect to inheriting the benefits of the kingdom.

* [19:23–24] Riches are an obstacle to entering the kingdom that cannot be overcome by human power. The comparison with the impossibility of a camel’s passing through the eye of a needle should not be mitigated by such suppositions as that the eye of a needle means a low or narrow gate. The kingdom of God: as in Mt 12:28; 21:31, 43 instead of Matthew’s usual kingdom of heaven.

* [19:25–26] See note on Mk 10:23–27.

* [19:28] This saying, directed to the Twelve, is from Q; see Lk 22:29–30. The new age: the Greek word here translated “new age” occurs in the New Testament only here and in Ti 3:5. Literally, it means “rebirth” or “regeneration,” and is used in Titus of spiritual rebirth through baptism. Here it means the “rebirth” effected by the coming of the kingdom. Since that coming has various stages (see notes on Mt 3:2; 4:17), the new age could be taken as referring to the time after the resurrection when the Twelve will govern the true Israel, i.e., the church of Jesus. (For “judge” in the sense of “govern,” cf. Jgs 12:8, 9, 11; 15:20; 16:31; Ps 2:10). But since it is connected here with the time when the Son of Man will be seated on his throne of glory, language that Matthew uses in Mt 25:31 for the time of final judgment, it is more likely that what the Twelve are promised is that they will be joined with Jesus then in judging the people of Israel.

* [19:30] Different interpretations have been given to this saying, which comes from Mk 10:31. In view of Matthew’s associating it with the following parable (Mt 20:1–15) and substantially repeating it (in reverse order) at the end of that parable (Mt 20:16), it may be that his meaning is that all who respond to the call of Jesus, at whatever time (first or last), will be the same in respect to inheriting the benefits of the kingdom, which is the gift of God. (Matthew, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

Greg Dyche reflects on the question of a friend who asks him if Old Testament God and New Testament God are the same. They thought it seemed like the mean God went to therapy and came out the loving Jesus of the Gospels.

I believe that the loving Jesus is God, and He is the same loving God I read in the Old Testament; however, I struggle to see that love in practice at times. So, my logic forces me to question my interpretation. Where is the love for the prince of Tyre? It must be there; God is there.

Where is the love of God for the rich man, for the medium to high income American who is independent and believes they can go it alone? Right there in the story, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Am I that far from the prince of Tyre? Do I break the first commandment in my heart and think, “I am” independent, worthy, important, somebody? It’s worth considering. (Dyche, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Who can enter the kingdom of heaven?” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.

"What then did Christ say? 'How difficult it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.' He was not criticizing money itself but the wills of those who are taken captive by it. If it will be difficult for the rich, how much more so for the avaricious! For if stinginess with one's own wealth is an impediment to gaining the kingdom, think how much fire is amassed for taking someone else's. But why does he say that it is hard for the rich man to enter the kingdom, to the disciples, who were poor and had nothing? He teaches them not to be ashamed of their poverty and, as it were, gives the reason why he did not allow them to possess anything. After saying it is hard, he also shows them that it is impossible, and not simply impossible but even in an exaggerated way impossible. He shows this from the comparison of the camel and the needle: 'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.' Hence Christ demonstrates that there is a significant reward for the wealthy who can practice self-denial. He also said that this had to be the work of God, that he might show that great grace is needed for anyone who is going to achieve it." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 63.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage from Ezekiel is a hymn, a lamentation over the prince of Tyre who is a very rich and powerful tyrant. It is a taunt song that is declared before the tragedy befalls. He is not a god but he will be destroyed. One never knows one's fate and must surrender to the will of God. The difficulty for the rich or self-sufficient to enter the Kingdom is like the camel passing through the eye of a needle. Friar Jude recently discovered that no such gate existed in the wall of Jerusalem and that the Gospel refers to a real camel and real eye of a needle. This is an example of typical Aramaic exaggeration .They are their own gods not willing to give up their wealth and power. Those who preach the hospitality of Jesus, like Francis of Assisi, who gave up everything and consequently are able to embrace and celebrate everything. Friar Jude asks us to consider: What is the most important thing in my life? Do we hold on to it? and is it Jesus?

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30 comments that riches may cause us to be slower to thank the Lord for his blessings. We may begin to attribute our treasures solely to our own goodness and hard work and forget about God’s provision and his work in forming our character.

In the end, it’s when the “love of money” takes the place of the love of Christ that we get tripped up (1 Timothy 6:10). Money can be a good thing, but a good thing may become an idol, especially when we place our desire for it above our desire for God or when we trust it more than we trust the Lord.

So let’s thank God for all of our blessings. Let’s cast off any “idols” that we might turn to for comfort, hope, or peace. And let’s remember that what may seem impossible for us is always possible for him!

“Jesus, may I put my trust and hope only in you!” (Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, remembers the late Dr. Barbara Holmes (1943–2024), a beloved member of the CAC faculty, who acknowledges the complicated feelings that prophets evoke in their listeners. One of the most important characteristics of prophets is that they are dangerous to the system.

There is a neglected but important aspect of the prophetic call. In Numbers 11:24–29, Moses is exhausted with the people. Basically, God says “Okay, okay, assemble the elders. Look to the community. You were never supposed to do this alone. I told you to do it; I didn’t tell you to do it alone.” How many of us are carrying burdens that are not ours, and are feeling pretty righteous about it? The work of living and dying, raising children, and leading congregations, was never meant to be solitary work. After the elders assemble, Joshua tells Moses that the elders are prophesying, and he says, “Moses, make this stop!” Moses’s reply in Numbers 11:29 is, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that God would put God’s Spirit on them!”

Let’s just sit with that for a minute. Have you ever felt as if God’s Spirit was on you? Although many of the prophets in the Bible are presented as single carriers of God’s word, often there was a community of other prophets that they came from or were associated with. Who is your community?… If you’re called to the prophetic task, and I think in some aspects all of us are—where is your prophetic community that will feed you and support you and guide you and help you? (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to deepen our knowledge and understanding of our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader through leading our experience of working in community with the example of the Poverello of Assisi.

References

Deuteronomy, CHAPTER 32 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/32? 

Dyche, G. (2026, August 18). Daily Reflection August 18, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-18-2026 

Ezekiel, CHAPTER 28 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/28?1 

Matthew, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19? 

Meditation on Matthew 19:23-30. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/08/18/1649608/ 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Prophets Work in Community. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/prophets-work-in-community/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Can Enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 18, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Credit Our Community

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to celebrate and credit our connection to a community as a primary source of life and love.

Community Action

In the Reading from the Letter to the Romans, Paul offers Greetings and prays a Doxology.

* [16:1–23] Some authorities regard these verses as a later addition to the letter, but in general the evidence favors the view that they were included in the original. Paul endeavors through the long list of greetings (Rom 16:3–16, 21–23) to establish strong personal contact with congregations that he has not personally encountered before. The combination of Jewish and Gentile names dramatically attests the unity in the gospel that transcends previous barriers of nationality, religious ceremony, or racial status.

* [16:25–27] This doxology is assigned variously to the end of Rom 14; 15; 16 in the manuscript tradition. Some manuscripts omit it entirely. Whether written by Paul or not, it forms an admirable conclusion to the letter at this point.

* [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. (Romans, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 145 declares the “works of God” make God present and invite human praise.

* [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. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents an Application of the Parable of the Dishonest Steward.

* [16:8b–13] Several originally independent sayings of Jesus are gathered here by Luke to form the concluding application of the parable of the dishonest steward.

* [16:8b–9] The first conclusion recommends the prudent use of one’s wealth (in the light of the coming of the end of the age) after the manner of the children of this world, represented in the parable by the dishonest steward.

* [16:9] Dishonest wealth: literally, “mammon of iniquity.” Mammon is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word that is usually explained as meaning “that in which one trusts.” The characterization of this wealth as dishonest expresses a tendency of wealth to lead one to dishonesty. Eternal dwellings: or, “eternal tents,” i.e., heaven.

* [16:10–12] The second conclusion recommends constant fidelity to those in positions of responsibility.

* [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.

* [16:14–18] The two parables about the use of riches in chap. 16 are separated by several isolated sayings of Jesus on the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Lk 16:14–15), on the law (Lk 16:16–17), and on divorce (Lk 16:18).

* [16:14–15] The Pharisees are here presented as examples of those who are slaves to wealth (see Lk 16:13) and, consequently, they are unable to serve God.(Luke, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Steve Scholer contrasts the “swing for the fences” culture in which we live, and the “go big or go home” swagger that many of our sports stars exude with the wisdom of Mother Teresa.

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, was one Mother Teresa read often. It became part of her very essence and being. Attention to the small things, not swinging for the fences, is what is important.

How we go about our daily affairs defines our true relationship with Jesus. Are we the type who does the right thing only when we know others may be watching us? Are we the ones whose charity is measured by whether our names appear on the honor roll of donors? Or, conversely, no matter how big or how small the matter, do we do what Christ calls us to do, to love one another without measuring the cost? (Scholer, n.d.)

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) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 urges us to take a moment and think about some of our fellow parishioners. For each of them, see if we can name one way that their presence, their gifts, or their prayers have helped people in our church. See if we can find one thing about each of them that we are grateful for.

This weekend at Mass, pay special attention to the people who are there to serve: the ushers, the altar servers, the musicians and deacons and lectors. Each of them is bearing the presence of Christ to their brothers and sisters. Each of them is bringing his love and his grace to them. To you. How can you thank them today?

“Lord, open my eyes to see how powerfully you are at work in my brothers and sisters.” (Meditation on Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that in this Romans passage, Paul greets a great number of people who he knows but he had never been in Rome. Paul sent copies to other communities and Romans 16 was likely sent to Ephesus around this time and people from Coritnth and others including  a woman as an apostle are mentioned. and the “writer” identified is likely the copier of the letter. It was a good letter and he is writing to a community and copies others to protect accuracy. In the Gospel, Luke instructs that If you have received dishonest wealth use it to share with those who do not have. If we try to possess that wealth we will lose it. Friar Jude comments that John and Matthew are tough with the Pharisees, but Luke, a Gentile, is a bit less tough.

Fr. Mike Schmitz celebrates the accomplishment of reading the entire Old Testament and wraps up the books of 2 Maccabees and Wisdom, talking through the key themes of the Old Testament visible in the conclusions to these books. He also discusses the motivation of the Maccabees to defend the temple and maintain its purity as well as uphold God’s honor. Today’s readings are from 2 Maccabees 15, Wisdom 19, and Proverbs 25:21-23

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine, referencing Matthew 5:11, who challenges any temptation we might have to make the Beatitudes only blessings for ourselves, instead of ways that we can become a blessing for others. 

On those who find themselves having others “utter all kinds of evil” against them on account of Jesus or who suffer for carrying the name “Christian,” Jesus is not talking about the so-called war on Christmas, what decorations appear on the winter-season coffee cup, or whether the mall rings with sounds of “Happy holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.” This is not persecution. This is respect for those who do not identify as Christian. Jesus’s concern is that one welcome the strangers, not hit them over the head with candy canes and tinsel. He is [instead] aware of those who risk their lives to live the gospel. In parts of the world, the practice of Christianity is illegal, churches are bombed, and children are hounded. To be aware of this persecution should prompt his followers to risk their reputations to make peace when others in their neighborhoods—the people without the tree in the living room or the lights by the door—are persecuted for being different. (Rohr, n.d.)

We praise God and seek the help of the Spirit to celebrate the diverse community of the children of God with whom we labour in the vineyard to share love, care and compassion.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/16?9 

Meditation on Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/11/08/1425337/ 

Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/living-the-sermon-on-the-mount-weekly-summary/ 

Romans, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/16?3 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Will Entrust to You the True Riches? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Scholer, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved November 8, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-november-8-2025