25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

25th Sunday Ordinary Time – Money, Money, Money

Who here has never had money worries or money troubles? Who here has not, at some point, wished for more money at some point in their lives? And is this wrong? Does it say that we are bad people or wrong people?

Money is there. It is at the centre of our lives because  we need it to live. We need it to thrive. We need it to be able to operate as human beings in our society. We need it to be able to grow as family, as individuals and as community. All of this is true and we should accept this as a reasonable approach to, and appreciation of, money in our lives.

Our issue is then what we do with this money and how we treat it. If it is the only thing in our lives then we will have very shallow and very skewed lives, because how much money is enough? How much money is satisfactory? We can become fixated on it and on its attainment to the exclusion of all else and therein lies misery and distress and dissatisfaction with love, with life , with just about everything.

God gives us all that we will need to live full and fulfilled lives. God provides us with the sustenance that we need to care for our lives and that of our families. God gives us the opportunities to enrich our lives through the use of money and income and to do the same for others where we can.

Money is a tool that we can use in many different ways to better ourselves and to better others. The choice is there for us to make. We can all remember the story of the widow’s mite. The widow who offered up the smallest coin possible at the temple but Jesus compared this to the riches offered up by the nobleman and said that she had given so much more than him because she had given all that she had. It was not the amount given but the impact on the giver’s life, that had counted.

Jesus was telling his disciples that it was important to look at money and the role that we allowed it to play within our lives. It is a great tool that can be used to complete so much good work, for us and for others if we just stop and think about it for a short while. Because it can be a great burden also, when we allow it take charge of our lives and become the only focus that we have.

Jesus told his apostles that they should render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s. He was telling them that they had to pay their taxes as and when they fell due but He was also telling them that everything belonged to God. All that we have; all that we own; all that we can see and touch and feel, all of this belongs to God. We should make use of all of this to honour God’s name. We should use it in such a way as to mirror God’s love for us.

Whether we are trading goods for goods or goods for good deeds. Or whether we are buying or selling with our hard-earned money, we should always have an eye to how this reflects God’s will and God’s love for us, for me, for our world. Money is a tool. It is an instrument of purpose and of exchange within our lives. Whether it is good or bad is down to us. What do we intend when we come to use it? Are we looking to promote God and His love for mankind in all that we do? If God is our centre, then we can do no wrong. If God is our focus then we are tuned in to Him and to what He would want of us.

Money is a major part of every life. We need it to live and thrive. But we need it to be governed by our love of God and by His wishes for our lives, our loves and our communities. Are we secure in our living? How then can we help others to this same end? If we each offered up just that little bit extra each week, how much more good could we accomplish.

In the coming weeks, we will have requests for financial support through extra collections at  or after mass. Issues such as the Pakistan Flood Appeal or support for Mary’s Meals – a charity that provides food for children and others. Please think about what you have and what you need and what help you could offer others with just a small extra donation.

Bidding Prayers

1.      That all those in need of food, water and shelter are given the help they need to attain these. Lord in your mercy

2.      That Governments and Churches work together to bring about peace and security for their peoples. Lord in your mercy

3.      That Queen Elizabeth may attain eternal rest with her heavenly Father. Lord in your mercy

4.      That King Charles be given the gifts of wisdom, fortitude, love and care to enable him to rule his people in reflection of God’s love. Lord in your mercy

5.      That all those who are sick and housebound within our parish receive the care they need and feel our love through our actions. Lord in your mercy

6.      That all those who have died recently are ta]ken into their father’s loving arms. We remember especially  Maureen Martindale at this time. Lord in your mercy

7.      We ask Our Lady, the Mother of our saviour to intercede for us as we now pray together, Hail Mary, full of grace