Gospel: Luke 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.”
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Reflection:
What is dishonest wealth and true wealth that Jesus speaks about in our
gospel? Dishonest wealth is any material wealth that you presently possess true
wealth is no other than Jesus Himself. Material wealth is dishonest wealth in
the sense that it will not give you peace, serenity and contentment no matter
how big.
Has anyone of us found peace and contentment with the money that we
have? No we have not found the serenity that we have been looking for. In fact
the more money, power and wealth we have the more that we have no peace of mind.
This is the paradox of earthly wealth and power: it will not give us the peace
of mind that we have been longing for. This
is the reason why this is called dishonest wealth.
What is true wealth then? When you have Jesus in your life you already have
this true wealth no matter if you are materially poor and no matter if you are
sick. Because when you have Jesus in your life you lack nothing and you will not
anymore desire for anything.
What is the worth of your life if you have all the wealth and power in
this world yet you don’t have Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
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