Do Our Possessions Possess Us? Learning the Logic of Giving on the Path to Evangelical Freedom

10/16/2012

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economic wealth. It is based upon a false equation that the more money we possess, the more spiritual power we have, and the more we can see that God favors us. Many of the Jews of Jesus' day believed that God's favor guaranteed wealth and prosperity.

But Jesus' life told a very different story. He was born in a manger. As an adult he had no place to lay his head. He was raised in a simple home- by a woman whose heart recognized true wealth. Remember the words that the angel spoke to Mary when she asked how it could be that she would bear the Messiah. "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37) Mary understood that when you have the Lord, you have it all. She lived in the heavenly economy, and if we choose, we can live there too.

In rediscovering our proper relationship to the goods of the earth-neither utterly rejecting them, wholeheartedly craving them, or turning them into an idol-we will find true freedom in Jesus Christ. Our eyes will be opened. We will not only learn to see Lazarus, we will see Jesus in Lazarus.

Remember the sobering words from the twenty fifth chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew: "'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25: 37-40)

How often have we have heard the saying, "Money is the root of all evil"? That is not what the Apostle taught. The phrase "love of money" is important because it speaks to matters of the heart. When we love the "goods" of the earth more than the One who created them we commit the sin of idolatry. A destitute person can be just as obsessed with money as a wealthy one who is given over to greed. Mary helps us to see that a life of simplicity is the antidote to any disordered view of earthly goods.

The Apostle Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, a young disciple who had been placed in leadership over the Christian community at Ephesus, a city that was known for its wealth and luxury. St. Paul had traveled there to plant the nascent Christian Church and he knew that those new Christian believers would face certain dangers when dealing with wealth. He reminded Timothy:

"Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain; for we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils and some people, in their desire for it, have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness." (1 Tim. 6: 6-11)

In a letter to the Christians in Philippi, St Paul explained his own approach to material goods: "I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need" (Philippians 4:12). One translation renders the Greek "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." (NIV)

St. Paul learned to live free from the disordered love of money. He found true contentment.He lived what Pope Benedict XVI referred to as the "logic of Giving". We can as well, on the path to evengelical freedom.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Money, love of money, prosperity gospel, Lazarus, solidarity, poverty, evangelical poverty, evangelical counsels, detachment, holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 4 of 4 Comments

abey
7 months ago
And the greatest of "The Giving" is Jesus Christ, the Lord from Heaven born as man, who gave His life for mankind. The Friend indeed. For a friend in need is the friend in deed.
Tom McGuire
7 months ago
Emma, your story is moving. Attachment to anything, state or idea gets in the way of the simplicity that Jesus calls us to. Oh, it is so hard to follow Jesus! We have not as followers of Jesus even begun to follow his way.

Deacon Fournier this is a good reflection; the Gospel of last Sunday is full of insight into what Jesus calls us to be. I did find this sentence puzzling: "By giving everything to the poor he would learn that, "his treasure - and therefore his heart - should be in heaven and not on earth." In the Lord's prayer we pray: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." I conclude from this that our minds indeed must be focused on making earth like heaven." Something to reflect on.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
7 months ago
The Challenge of the Church and the world is to " live the Biblical Spirituality" in the family, social and political life. when the Biblical values lived out, it becomes the ' sub-structure' of " culture and morality" linking from one generation to the next. The Biblical values of " poverty" and attitude to wealth invites us, as the article reminds, " in simplicity and giving/ sharing" with the needy in such a way, that the love of God and his compassion is sprouted in the " neighbor" that in later life, he / she feels the self- dignity to stand on his own leg. very often, whether personal, national or international sharing, the powerful dominates and enslaves the weaker in such a way, that they are fully exploited for the benefit of the giver. The article, if taken seriously is an ' anti-dote' to protests against " anti- austerity" measures adopted by many of the European countries - Greek, Portugal and Spain. when Christ and neighbor( Love of God and humanity) is divorced from the economy, the true principle of economy- " the more you have, the more you want to have more of it"& " the increasing utility", " never the Diminishing" one will come into force. Such " devilish force" only will force man to" plunder the human and natural resources" in such a way that they disturb the very ecological balance, affecting the posterity. This is envisaged in the economic liberalization and FDI( Foreign Direct Investment) The Biblical concept of economy which I call it " Christiaconomia" ( www.Indian Currents.org) / www. canonry of Jamtara.org) suggests an economy that is " both sustaining and satiating". Follow the person and values of Christ is the only panacea in our " sickly world" that seeks happiness elsewhere in drugs, sex and scientific gadgets, only but to return empty handed, for Jesus said, " I have come that your happiness may be complete" and the purpose of economy is " satiation of need, thereby leading to happiness of man". Today the world is not behind the " need" but the " ever widening ripples of greed".
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem.
Emma
7 months ago
We can also become attached to poverty. Sounds contradictory, I know, but, I grew up in poverty, frequently homeless and at times, my only resort for a meal was to stand outside Starbuck's and wait for them to get rid of the leftovers from the day. I was never totally conscious of being anxious over the situation, I think I was too young to notice that that wasn't the way most people lived. But, slowly, moving on to school and out of that situation, I became attached to being poor. When I first read these verses, I thought that to truly be a child of Christ, I had to remain poor. It was in all honesty, a moral struggle for me. Then, I noticed how when I was with others, I would "flaunt" my simple life style. I held on to that only as a means to claim moral superiority and also used my past claim to victimhood as a means of control over others. It took me a very long time to let go of my attachment to poverty and even then, I have to admit a certain tinge of guilt when I find myself enjoying my good fortune! I've been telling myself, "it's ok to take what you need and to enjoy some of these gifts, just remember to share." This helps with the struggle that I continue to work through. It's encouraging to hear someone say, "You can have some fun with it, Emma!" :)

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