“For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” – Mark 12:44 The poor widow in our Gospel passage for Sunday went all in, contributing all she had to glorify God. She gave the last of what she had, “all she had to live on” in some translations. The Lord looked into her heart as she gave and saw the disposition she…
If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. – Mark 9:35 There’s a lot of talk these days about who is the “greatest of all time”–the GOAT–especially in sports. The world would say that you are the “GOAT” if you are the best ever at whatever it is you do. But to be great in God’s eyes is a whole different ball game (pun intended).…
“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” – Matthew 22:21 In this Sunday’s Gospel passage about the coin and Roman taxes (Matthew 22:15-21), the coin belongs to Caesar, but Jesus directs the people to consider what belongs to God. This makes me reflect on what things in this world that belong to God. The answer is everything good! St. James taught: “Every generous act of giving, with…
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes. – Matthew 21:42, Psalm 118:22-23 Jesus is the Head and Cornerstone of the Church. He is the Head, the one who leads the Church with wisdom (CCC 792). He is also the Cornerstone, the foundation of the Church, the one on which all worship, liturgy, sacraments, ministry, and teaching are built…
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” – Luke 19:8 When I read the story of Zacchaeus, I see a model of the stewardship way of life. Zacchaeus was a man who had been conducting his life according to the world, not according to God’s law. He had been cheating people for selfish profit because the…
No, this is not a take on the George Thorogood song. But it is an important question. Who do you love: God or Mammon? The Scripture readings for this Sunday focus on how we view money. Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). Mammon is the personification…