Amos 8:4-7
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13

God vs Mammon

The first reading from the Book of Amos written over two thousand years ago seems to be written for our world today.

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land!  “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?  We will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our scales for cheating!  We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!” The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done!

The readings for this Sunday remind us to choose God over money or anything else we think important. They call us to live with honesty and care for others, not just to seek wealth or comfort. Amos warns that God will not forget a thing we have done. 

The ending words of the gospel reading are even more clear.

Jesus said to his disciples: “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 both God and mammon.”

Dishonesty, cheating, putting one’s self first, not caring for others goes on in our society every day and maybe even among those we know. Some of this may even be true in our own lives. The readings prompt us to ask ourselves how well we care for and use all that has been given to us. We say we are Christians, followers of Jesus, but we have to honestly ask ourselves if this is always true. Are we persons who really try to see God present in others? Do we really live the reality that we are all the Body of Christ? Do we serve others without hoping for own gain? Are we filled with the compassion of Christ for others?

All the readings for Sunday remind to reflect on our choices and to place God first in all things.

Are there any choices you find difficult to put God first? How can you change that?

In what ways do you choose God rather than the things of this world?