Jesus' attitude towards money: 28th sunday B 2012

Today we reflect on the attitude of Jesus towards money because the exchange in the dialogue between the young man and Jesus shows that Jesus cares about how we use our money.  A priest would always feel some degree of discomfort whenever he talks about money in the pulpit.  It would always be viewed as self serving.  Why?  Because after his sermon, the colecta takes place.

But I would like to talk about it anyway.  After all there is no colecta after this homily although there will be some pressure on you this week with the signing of clearances and the settling of accounts because of the finals on Monday next week.

So what is the attitude of Jesus towards money, how does he want us to use our money?

First, Jesus is telling us that how we spend our money has an impact on the welfare of our neighbour.  Jesus did not just tell the young man who wanted to follow him to sell his possession, period.  He told him to sell so that he can give the proceeds to the poor.  He told him to sell so that others can benefit from his wealth.  He told him to sell so that the poor can have something to eat even just for a day.  It was not just selling, it was selling for something because how we use our money has an impact to people around us.

When Msgr. Piamonte died, he was our former archbishop, we all called to gather in the palacio because his last will and testament will be read in the presence of the priests and also in the presence of his family.  Msgr. Piamonte has a big television set and in the will he said that this will be given to his parents if they are still alive.  Of course they were long dead, so in the will he said, if they are dead the TV will be left for the use of the personnel in the Palacio.  Then the books were all left for  the regional seminary, and lastly the money.  He said in his will - all I have came from my service in the church.  Therefore all the money left in my bank account will be given back to the church for the use of the catechists and for the education of seminarians.  Ang iya pamilya wala gid may nabaton bisan singko.  Even now catechists in the cathedral are paid by the funds of Msgr. Piamonte and there are college seminarians two or three at the moment supported and paid for by the funds of Archbishop Piamonte. 

How you use your money has an impact to the people around you.  Now lantawa halimbawa ang ginapanghaboy ta sa banyo, mga brief, tshirt, shorts, delargo, mga pagkaon nga na-usikan lang, mga libro nga ginapanghaboy naton kada tuig - basura, ang suga kag electric fan nga ginapasiga nga wala man tawo nga makapulos.  Usik, waste.  This is money and how we use it will have an impact to people around us.  Pero ti ano karon ang impact niya?  Usik just pure waste.  Always be conscious how you use your money because how you use them will have impact on others.  Tipuna bala tanan naton nga usik nga pagkaon.  I think sa bilog nga tuig, kon tipunon mo ina makapa-iskwela pa kita isa ukon duha pa ka seminarista nga luyag magpari pero indi makasarang.

Second, money and how one uses it creates an impact not just in the people around him but most especially in the person who owns the money.

How you use your own money will create an impact on you.  When Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything and give to the poor - what did money do to him?  What?  Money made him sad.  The gospel said, he went away sad because he has many possessions.  His money made him sad.  Kontani Jesus was giving him an opportunity - an opportunity that will allow his money, his possessions make a positive impact in his life.  Ano kontani ang impact nga luyag ni Jesus matabo?  What was the intended impact - love and generosity.  The young man will give his money in order to grow in love and generosity.  So his money could have made him more loving and more generous.  Instead his money made him sad.

Money will affect you deeply.  In the priesthood money will affect your ministry.  It will affect your obedience to the bishop - indi ka da luyag i-assign kay gamay ang kita, gamay ang kolekta.  Money will have an impact on your spiritual life - naminami-on mo misa mo kay 2 thousand ang stipend; patarasak lang misa mo kay 250 lang ang stipend.

Question - what is the impact of money to you - does it make you generous or does it make you greedy?  Does it make you loving or does it make you sad.

PS.  Next Week is Mission Sunday.  I want you to distribute the mission envelopes - we donate a portion of our allowance of our personal money so that missionaries can go on with their  work in mission lands.  I will give it to the treasurer of each class and distribute it, then out it in the collection box there in the lobby so that we can send it to missionaries.