For most Christians, it would seem like the choice between God and money is an easy one. The quick response would be God. However, our actions most times do not reflect this Christian choice. When money rather than God is the driving force of our lives, we are choosing money over God. In the gospel this week, Jesus says you cannot serve both God and mammon (riches, or material wealth.) Christians must always choose God over material things because all material things come from God and they belong to him. While God lasts forever, material wealth does not.
The choice for God over wealth brings about a more just society. The social problems we face in the world are not as a result of lack of abundant resources, they result from greed. God has blessed this world with abundant resources but a majority of the stewards of these resources are selfish with them. St. Augustine teaches us that the extras we have do not belong to us but we hold in custody for the poor. If we refuse to share them with the poor, we are stealing from them. If we choose God over wealth, we will recognize that it is wrong to take salaries and bonuses of thousands and millions of dollars while our employees do not have a living wage. As Christians, we do not strive to be wealthy at all cost because wealth is not the primary purpose of our lives. The purpose of our lives is to know God, to love him, to serve him and to be happy with him in this world and in the next. Every other thing is a footnote. Thus, we cannot dehumanize others in order to gain wealth.
Choosing wealth over God is a cardinal sin. It is an affirmation of a lack of trust in God. When we trust God, we can be assured that he would provide our material needs. The miracles of both the Old Testament and the New Testament (manner in the desert, the widow of Zeraphath, the feeding of the five thousand, etc.) bear witness to God’s faithfulness to his promise.
-Fr. Bekeh Utietiang
Reflection Questions:
How much does a ticket to heaven cost? What is the cost of salvation stocks? What is the monetary exchange rate in heaven? Why money and not God? Can we choose both?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Caring for every temple of God
There is much currently being said of The Affordable Health Care Act. In the last few weeks the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Act. Later the Senate rejected that act of the House. Currently several states have challenged the constitutionality of the Act in regard to requiring all US citizens to purchase health insurance.
In the second reading, St. Paul tells us that our bodies “are the temple of God,” and “God dwells within” (us). What does that mean? For one thing, we have a responsibility to take care of “our temple”; our physical health is important to God. Thus, we have an obligation to live a healthy lifestyle, and we need adequate health care.
In today’s first reading, God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Loving our neighbors includes making sure they are adequately provided for. Think of all of us as the knots in a fishing net. The net is only as strong as its weakest knot. If there are missing knots, the net will not work. So is health care a right or a privilege? I believe it is a right, which is recognized by every other industrialized country in the world, except the United States.
Why is health care such an important issue? Depending on the source, Americans on average pay $1.00 out of every $7.00 per person for heath care. That is 16-17% of all the money we spend. By 2020 it will rise to $1.00 out of every $5.00. At this rate, we will pay 100% of our income for health care by 2050!! How do other countries afford universal care? They generally spend about $1.00 out of $10.00 for complete health care. Why do we pay so much more? It is alleged that we have the best care in the world, BUT only if you can afford it. To make matters worse, by every measurement, we do not live as long; we have a higher infant mortality rate, and epidemics of Type II diabetes and obesity.
Over my many years as a physician, I’ve observed firsthand the many reasons for our expensive health care. I wish I had more space to list them! One example might help. We have less than 5% of the world’s population and collectively spend 47% of the world’s outlay on prescription drugs. In West Virginia the average person takes 18 prescription drugs – the most in the nation. We are one out of two countries allowing TV advertising of drugs. Worse yet, that issue hasn’t even been addressed in the new law, although other issues to rein in costs are being addressed. It’s at least a start.
Bishop Bransfield recognizes the problem of health care in West Virginia and has instituted a diocesan wide program to respond to this need. Taking care of each other is what Christ told us to do.
Richard M. Iammarino, MD is a member of St. John’s.
Question of the Week:
Do you agree that health care should be provided for all by the government? If not, what model would you propose, based on the Biblical commands to love our neighbors as ourselves and provide for orphans and widows?
In the second reading, St. Paul tells us that our bodies “are the temple of God,” and “God dwells within” (us). What does that mean? For one thing, we have a responsibility to take care of “our temple”; our physical health is important to God. Thus, we have an obligation to live a healthy lifestyle, and we need adequate health care.
In today’s first reading, God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Loving our neighbors includes making sure they are adequately provided for. Think of all of us as the knots in a fishing net. The net is only as strong as its weakest knot. If there are missing knots, the net will not work. So is health care a right or a privilege? I believe it is a right, which is recognized by every other industrialized country in the world, except the United States.
Why is health care such an important issue? Depending on the source, Americans on average pay $1.00 out of every $7.00 per person for heath care. That is 16-17% of all the money we spend. By 2020 it will rise to $1.00 out of every $5.00. At this rate, we will pay 100% of our income for health care by 2050!! How do other countries afford universal care? They generally spend about $1.00 out of $10.00 for complete health care. Why do we pay so much more? It is alleged that we have the best care in the world, BUT only if you can afford it. To make matters worse, by every measurement, we do not live as long; we have a higher infant mortality rate, and epidemics of Type II diabetes and obesity.
Over my many years as a physician, I’ve observed firsthand the many reasons for our expensive health care. I wish I had more space to list them! One example might help. We have less than 5% of the world’s population and collectively spend 47% of the world’s outlay on prescription drugs. In West Virginia the average person takes 18 prescription drugs – the most in the nation. We are one out of two countries allowing TV advertising of drugs. Worse yet, that issue hasn’t even been addressed in the new law, although other issues to rein in costs are being addressed. It’s at least a start.
Bishop Bransfield recognizes the problem of health care in West Virginia and has instituted a diocesan wide program to respond to this need. Taking care of each other is what Christ told us to do.
Richard M. Iammarino, MD is a member of St. John’s.
Question of the Week:
Do you agree that health care should be provided for all by the government? If not, what model would you propose, based on the Biblical commands to love our neighbors as ourselves and provide for orphans and widows?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Stubborn as a....
The wisdom spoken about in Corinthians is a wisdom that comes from God, and dwelled in the hearts of Adam and Eve when God created them; and ironically, a wisdom they forfeited when they chose to eat from the tree of knowledge. After they ate the fruit they grew in world knowledge; they now knew sin. This worldly knowledge led them-and later, us- to rationalize our sinful behavior.
I look back a few years ago to a time in which by my own standards of right and wrong I saw myself as wise, but now see as foolish when measured by the Wisdom of God. One of my best friends and I got into an argument, it was a foolish argument about directions to a house (stupid and futile right?). I saw myself as right, and I saw this argument as justified because I saw my perspective as correct, while he was wrong. (Keep in mind we are talking about directions to a house here!)
Our argument-which shouldn’t have lasted longer than a day-spread to weeks; weeks turned into months, and months into years. During this time, I couldn’t tell how much of a downward spiral my life was taking; I was like a frog in water slowly boiling. Then my best friend took me to his church, where the preacher happened to be talking about Matthew 5:23-24, when Jesus says:
“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.”
I knew God was speaking directly to me. God was telling me to suck up my pride and forgive my friend-and ask for forgiveness.
Once we had reconciled, our friendship was renewed and almost immediately I felt God’s graces coming back to me. He had never left me; I had just felt further and further away from God while I was feuding with my friend. But that simple “I am sorry” and “I forgive you” were the open door God was looking for to step back into my life and bless me.
Mathieu Gascon is a WVU student and member of St. John’s.
Question of the Week:
When has my stubbornness prevented me from doing God’s will? Is there something God is calling me to now that I am resisting?
I look back a few years ago to a time in which by my own standards of right and wrong I saw myself as wise, but now see as foolish when measured by the Wisdom of God. One of my best friends and I got into an argument, it was a foolish argument about directions to a house (stupid and futile right?). I saw myself as right, and I saw this argument as justified because I saw my perspective as correct, while he was wrong. (Keep in mind we are talking about directions to a house here!)
Our argument-which shouldn’t have lasted longer than a day-spread to weeks; weeks turned into months, and months into years. During this time, I couldn’t tell how much of a downward spiral my life was taking; I was like a frog in water slowly boiling. Then my best friend took me to his church, where the preacher happened to be talking about Matthew 5:23-24, when Jesus says:
“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.”
I knew God was speaking directly to me. God was telling me to suck up my pride and forgive my friend-and ask for forgiveness.
Once we had reconciled, our friendship was renewed and almost immediately I felt God’s graces coming back to me. He had never left me; I had just felt further and further away from God while I was feuding with my friend. But that simple “I am sorry” and “I forgive you” were the open door God was looking for to step back into my life and bless me.
Mathieu Gascon is a WVU student and member of St. John’s.
Question of the Week:
When has my stubbornness prevented me from doing God’s will? Is there something God is calling me to now that I am resisting?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Let Go and Let God
As I reflect on this weekend’s readings, it brings to mind the lyrics of Catholic singer/songwriter Audrey Assad: “If everything is Yours, I’m letting it go. No, it was never mine to hold.” Let’s be honest. When it comes down to “Can I do this particular task better, or can God do it better?” the answer is “God can do this better.” Every time. And not just better, better than we can possibly imagine. It’s ridiculously prideful of us to think that we should hold on to our own lives, especially our past grievances, present trials, and future worries. Having that power and control over our lives is overrated, in my opinion. It’s only when we let go that we get to see amazing things happen; only then can we truly start to live the abundant life Christ promised us (John 10:10).
Just look at Paul in today’s second reading. He tells the Corinthians that he didn’t try to win them over using human wisdom, and that’s not because Paul was a stupid guy. Paul was afraid to speak to the Jews because he had previously been trying to kill those of them associated with the New Way, but he knew that neither his wisdom nor his fear was comparable to the Power of God that worked through him when he humbled himself before the Lord. Paul originally set out to convert the Jews, but God wanted to use him for bigger and better purposes. Just think of all those Gentiles—perhaps us today—who wouldn’t have experienced Christ and a conversion of heart had Paul not let go of himself and allowed the Spirit to work through him to accomplish things he never would have thought possible.
When we truly release ourselves to Christ, it gives Him room to fill us completely with His love. And love is fascinating in the fact that the more you have, the more you can’t help but give away. What other kind of Power could have caused throngs of people to be converted to this Faith? It must have been the message of love—the message of Christ’s outpouring on the Cross—that the early Christians preached, as well as the love they practiced, because they were overflowing with the love of Jesus Christ. This love is manifested in what the first reading calls an acceptable offering to the LORD: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and fighting against oppression in all its forms.
So, finally relating this to the Gospel, how are we supposed to be God’s salt, especially if we’ve already lost our flavor? And how are we supposed to be the light of the world if we ourselves are only broken lamps? The answer is that we can’t be. But God can be. We are the Body of Christ, so we need to let Him be…in and through us. Only in God, the Master Chef, can the true, best flavor be brought forth in the world. He needs us to allow Him to season the earth—with us. Only after we give ourselves to Him will He use us to light up a darkened world. And He so desperately wants the world to see Him and His love. How will God use you in life? That depends on you. Let go and let God!
Emily Pino is a WVU student and member of St. John’s.
Recommended Reading:
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Question of the Week:
When have you been amazed at how God has worked in your life when you’ve “let go and let God”?
Just look at Paul in today’s second reading. He tells the Corinthians that he didn’t try to win them over using human wisdom, and that’s not because Paul was a stupid guy. Paul was afraid to speak to the Jews because he had previously been trying to kill those of them associated with the New Way, but he knew that neither his wisdom nor his fear was comparable to the Power of God that worked through him when he humbled himself before the Lord. Paul originally set out to convert the Jews, but God wanted to use him for bigger and better purposes. Just think of all those Gentiles—perhaps us today—who wouldn’t have experienced Christ and a conversion of heart had Paul not let go of himself and allowed the Spirit to work through him to accomplish things he never would have thought possible.
When we truly release ourselves to Christ, it gives Him room to fill us completely with His love. And love is fascinating in the fact that the more you have, the more you can’t help but give away. What other kind of Power could have caused throngs of people to be converted to this Faith? It must have been the message of love—the message of Christ’s outpouring on the Cross—that the early Christians preached, as well as the love they practiced, because they were overflowing with the love of Jesus Christ. This love is manifested in what the first reading calls an acceptable offering to the LORD: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and fighting against oppression in all its forms.
So, finally relating this to the Gospel, how are we supposed to be God’s salt, especially if we’ve already lost our flavor? And how are we supposed to be the light of the world if we ourselves are only broken lamps? The answer is that we can’t be. But God can be. We are the Body of Christ, so we need to let Him be…in and through us. Only in God, the Master Chef, can the true, best flavor be brought forth in the world. He needs us to allow Him to season the earth—with us. Only after we give ourselves to Him will He use us to light up a darkened world. And He so desperately wants the world to see Him and His love. How will God use you in life? That depends on you. Let go and let God!
Emily Pino is a WVU student and member of St. John’s.
Recommended Reading:
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Question of the Week:
When have you been amazed at how God has worked in your life when you’ve “let go and let God”?
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