Reading 1
1 Tm 6:2c-12
Beloved:
Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the religious teaching
is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,
supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith
and have pierced themselves with many pains.
But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
Gospel
Lk 8:1-3
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.
Meditation: 1 Timothy 6:2-12
The love of money is the root of all evils. (1 Timothy 6:10)
We all know that money can be a source of temptation. But how can it be “the root of all evils”—especially these days, when it’s so scarce? In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola gives us an answer. His meditation on the kingdom of Satan reveals how the devil seeks to enslave us through riches. In fact, riches are his very first temptation, followed by the false prestige that comes from them. From there, it’s not a big step to pride, which is the mother of all sins. The issue isn’t really our wallets—it’s our hearts.
By design, we are made to worship something. And if we get too focused on our possessions, they can become idols. If we’re blessed with abundance, we can start thinking, “I have it all!” But the problem is that we always seem to want more, because our hearts are made for an infinite God, not finite wealth. The same can be true if we are very poor or just going through hard times. We can become overwhelmed with our lack, to the point of envying those who have more. We can lose sight of the loving Father who holds us in his hands.
The antidote to the false pride that can come from riches—and the antidote to the envy and covetousness that can come from lack—is what Ignatius called “spiritual poverty.” It’s the humility to accept that everything we have comes from God. It’s the same poverty that Jesus showed in his incarnation: Though he was God’s Son, he “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” (Philippians 2:7). When we follow Jesus and surrender everything to God, we find that we are truly free to serve him.
In prayer today, focus on your spiritual riches. God has blessed you with “every spiritual blessing in the heavens” (Ephesians 1:3). You are his child! By the cross, you have been forgiven and made whole. You are in the care of a loving Father. Nothing that this world offers can ever take his place!
“Lord, thank you for your goodness! I want to follow you and to serve you with everything that I have. May I regard all as worthless compared to knowing you!”
Psalm 49:6-10,17-20; Luke 8:1-3
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