Eighth of Year A
February 2011
I have often spoken to you about total trust and confidence in God.
Reading today’s Gospel one might be tempted to head off into the Sahara Desert on ones own, without food or water, so that one might devote oneself totally to seeking God in prayer and fasting.
Remember the temptations of Jesus after his baptism. “Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, - on their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Familiarity with only some parts of the Bible is a very dangerous thing. One must be familiar with the overall teaching of the Bible and the various parts must dovetail into this overall teaching.
Total trust and confidence in your God, on its own, will not pay your mortgage, will not pay your utility bills, will not clean the house etc. etc.
A Christian is one, who after doing everything they reasonably can and should do, can kneel down (or sit down) and pray; ‘God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.’
When today’s Gospel tells us ‘You cannot serve God and wealth.’ it is not telling us to avoid and abhor money and material possessions. This is obviously impossible and even inadvisable. But on the other hand if we look at the world of celebrity, if we look at the despots who are presently being unseated in the Arab world, if we look at the job losses and rising prices here at home, we see the devastation that unregulated pursuit of wealth, power and self-advancement brings.
As you all know the great way of ensuring that I do not get too attached to money and material possessions is to give significant amounts away, to worthy causes, on a regular basis. The usual plea that I am keeping it for my children can easily be tested for validity by being told; ok. So give it to your children now while they still need it and can enjoy it!
My reaction to this suggestion should be educational!!
The regular practise of giving has many advantages. For example:
Two men were shipwrecked near an island. After they had struggled ashore, one of them began screaming and yelling, “We’re going to die! We’re going to die! There’s no food! No water! We’re going to die!”
The second man leaned calmly against a palm tree.
When the first man saw how calm his friend was, he shouted, “Don’t you understand?! We’re going to die!!” Undisturbed, the second man replied, I make $100,000 a week and I tithe ten percent on that. Wherever I am, my pastor will be sure to find me!”