My brother has this theory about personal finances that I struggle with. Not because I think he is wrong. It is because, in order to follow it, I would need to have more faith than I actually do. His theory is that our goal financially is to have a zero balance in our bank accounts once we take our last breath. To not sit on our money and live off the dividends trying to preserve the assets for our children or just to not risk running out. He believes we should not hesitate to spend and enjoy the fruits of our life’s work. Now, I don’t think he means that we should live selfishly. To spend every dime on ourselves. It could also include giving money to those less fortunate or to our houses of worship. I think of the parable of the farmer who had a great crop of corn and he built bigger barns to house it and save it for his retirement. So that he could live worry free. And instead, his life was demanded of him that very night that he completed his barn.
I, unfortunately, am more like this farmer. I don’t want to run out of money before I run out of life. We also have two daughters who I feel need to have some expectation of inheritance. After all, they put up with our being wrapped up in business dealings while they were young. Their patience, in a way, helped us to achieve some measure of financial success. This is the challenge. How to reconcile the need to provide for our children, enjoy some of the financial success we have achieved, yet support those less fortunate.
Which brings us to this very unsettling Gospel from today. Jesus opens up with this line:
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.
Make friends with dishonest wealth?! Wait…what? Our Lord is asking us to be dishonest and then prosper off this dishonesty?! Can’t be right. Of course, He is doing no such thing. What is meant by dishonest wealth? Jesus is contrasting the wealth that is earthly in origin, material wealth, with wealth that is more spiritual in nature. Wealth that involves relationships with others. Particularly those around us that are in need. Using the gifts that God has given us to help lift up those that have not been as fortunate. And what does he mean about when it fails? When our life ends. As we have heard multiple times…”you can’t take it with you”. And what does he mean by being welcomed into eternal dwellings? When we face God’s judgement, will there be those ready to stand up for us and testify how we treated those in need. And if we cannot be trusted to make good decisions regarding the earthly wealth that God has given us, will God extend trust to us in caring for those in His kingdom.
I know for a fact that I am trying to serve two masters. While I invest some of what I have to aid neighbors in need, I also serve myself in focusing excessively on possessions and things of this world. Paul, in today’s first reading to the Philippians praises them for their willingness to aid him and his work:
You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel,
when I left Macedonia,
not a single church shared with me
in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone.
For even when I was at Thessalonica
you sent me something for my needs,
not only once but more than once.
I wish I could say that I have that kind of generosity. But like they say, recognizing the problem is the first step to managing it. I have been focused a bit more on purgatory this year. It is obviously a key aspect discussed during the observance of All Soul’s Day. Of how God burns off the chaff of our imperfections before we get to see Him face to face. I pray that I learn to share what God has given me with others here while I am still in this life rather than relying on the fires of purgatory to enlighten me.
