YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON

Phil 4,10-19; Ps 111; Lk 16,9-15
10 NOVEMBER

Man has only one heart, one soul, the only body and one life. He can consecrate himself to his Lord for the fulfilment of his will. If he does this he becomes a lord like God is the Lord. But he can also escape from his Creator and God putting himself at the service of creatures. The parable of Jesus reveals to us that when this happens, man’s condition is extremely miserable: he becomes slaves of pigs. The younger son sees himself as a slave to pigs, just as the region of the Gadarenes is enslaved by them.

Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”‘ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began (Lk 15,11-24).

When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district (Mt 8,28-34).

What is the wealth of man? His life. Everything is in his life. If he gives his life to God, obeying his will, God always becomes man’s life, in everything. Instead, if man gives his life to the things of the world, he will always be a slave to pigs, because he can live only in God. The things of this world kill the life that is delivered to them. When man gives life to God, he gives it to him with what he has.

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.

Another truth has it that man might never get rid either of his life or of what he has. Life and goods of the world must be administered by him with all wisdom and intelligence, always according to the will of God, manifested in his Word.

Faithful Virgin, Angels and Saints make us wise and intelligent administrators of life.