MONEY AND WEALTH CANNOT BECOME OUR GOD

XXV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Luke 16:1-13

More than ever, money has become the ruler of the world, and those with money are the ones who set the policies that establish order in the world. We live in a world dominated by the money lords, be it millionaires or big multinationals. There is even a new theology, the wealth theology, which considers wealth a blessing bestowed on those who truly believe.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus gives a stern warning about allowing money to become our main concern, transforming it into our god:

“You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Lk 16:13)

Does it mean that we do not need money? All of us know that without money, our society would come to a stand still. We must produce wealth, or people will suffer and starve to death; in the end, people will become slaves of the lords of the world.

In most cases, when they come to power, socialist governments improve the conditions of the poor, putting in place policies for the distribution of wealth. However, as time passes by, their economies collapse, because they do not know how to produce wealth.

Jesus was not against money and wealth. He had one of his apostles put in charge of the money (Jn 13:29) received from well wishers and supporters. However, he was well aware of the dangers that go with money. Wealth is always a temptation. In the desert, it was the great temptation of wealth and power. To accept it was the same as to worship the devil (Mt 4:8-9). Money, wealth and power go together and they become an idol very easily. That’s why Jesus always said very strong words about money. We cannot worship God and money at the same time. The god of money and wealth is a false god, that will enslave us, and when we become slaves of money, we will enslave everybody who comes in touch with us. We will transform the others into tools at our service. We will have no heart for the needs of the others; instead, we will concentrate all our efforts in increasing our wealth. Profit will be our only concern, and the bigger the better. We will trample on the rights of the others, mainly the poor, and throw justice away, putting in its place injustice and oppression.

The first reading, from Amos 8:4-7, speaks of that:

“Listen to this, you who trample on the needy

and try to suppress the poor people of the country,

…

we can buy up the poor for money,

and the needy for a pair of sandals,

and get a price even for the sweepings of the wheat.’

The Lord swears it by the pride of Jacob,

‘Never will I forget a single thing you have done.”

Whenever we cheat, oppress and do injustice to the weak, the poor and the downtrodden, God will stand up against us, siding with the poor. Throughout the Bible, God takes the side of the poor, and we should never forget that.

Jesus advises us to learn from the parable of the crooked administrator, not to become crooks like him, but to be clever enough to use our money and our wealth to gain friends in heaven, so that they will welcome us. If we arrive alone at the gates of heaven, the gates will remain closed for us. We must arrive there with a big crowd - all those with whom we shared our wealth. They will speak for us. Christ himself will recognise us and speak for us, saying: Come in, take you place, because you took good care of me, when I was poor, sick, abandoned, despised, oppressed.

Wealth exists for the benefit of the community and not to be at the service of individuals, who ignore the suffering of the others.