Dirty money
The story is told about a congressman’s wife who was awakened in the middle of the night by noises. “Dad, there are thieves in the house,” she whispered to her husband. “I know, but there are thieves in the Senate, too,” was the half-asleep congressman’s reply.
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In today’s Gospel (Matthew 16:21-27) Jesus lays down the bottom line for all thieves, cheats, and liars: “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” There is a sure backlash whenever we choose worldly riches, power, and pleasures over goodness and the Divine will. The fact is that we lose a lot—as “a lot”—whenever we choose evil over good. Yes, we lose our name, our peace of mind, our values, our character, and even our souls. Is it really worth it all? What for?
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We all will die. Sooner or later, we all will face our Creator someday. Many of the worldly things that matter to us now will not matter when that moment comes. The bottom line then will be “Whatever you did to the least of my brethren you did it unto me.” May we not lose sight of the final reckoning, when the good will be rewarded and the evil ones will be punished. We carry nothing with us when we die except the love we have shared when we were still alive.
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For those who have amassed so much wealth illegally, why not leave your money and possessions to the poorest of the poor? Don’t leave your ill-gotten riches to your children and grandchildren. They have enough of your dirty money already. Don’t contaminate them further! Purify your dirty money by putting in your will a provision for the poor. Give to the socio-civic-religious entities that could put your money into good use. Use your money for your salvation, not for your condemnation.
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Sad to say, many of us are going through life at a very fast speed without even knowing where we are heading to. Many of us have taken the road to perdition and self-destruction in our search for money, power, and pleasure. Indeed, we ask again: What for? At what cost? Why? The bottom line is that all the money and the power, and all the pleasures of this world will not bring us lasting peace and happiness in this world and beyond. So slow down, stay in the Divine will, and pray so that you do not self-destruct. Stay good, and stay beautiful.
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Sorry, there is no other road to a meaningful life in this world, and to eternal life in the next, but the way of the cross—the narrow, steep, winding road of sacrifice and suffering. There is another road, by the way. It is wide, downhill and straight, straight to hell. Are you living a life of luxury, pleasure, vice, sin, and good time? Careful. All these give you temporary and fleeting fulfillment, but they lead to a miserable existence. Sooner or later, all these will come to an end. And don’t forget you, too, will come to an end. And where will you be then?
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How far easier it is to reject the cross than to accept it. I know of some people who spend their whole lifetime questioning and complaining about their crosses. Let us pray that we may accept whatever crosses that come our way. There are many things we don’t and we will never understand in this world. What is asked of us is acceptance and obedience that simply says: “Thy will be done, Lord”! and, let us make sure that we are not a cross to other people.
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I am amazed and amused at how some people go all out to gain publicity and media mileage. They will do anything to get the approval and applause of the people. Instead of asking “What do people say?” we must ask the more important question, “What does God say?”
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While there is still time, go back to the road that leads to heaven, because there will come a time when there will be no more time. To borrow the lines of a song: “What is time without love, what is love without time?’’ Time on earth spent without love is wasted time. When is the best time to go back? The best time is now. Not tomorrow, not next week, nor after you have earned another million, not when you retire. “If today you hear his voice harden not your heart.”
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to use money for our salvation, not for our condemnation. Amen.
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momentswithfrjerry@gmail.com
