It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy.

"How mistaken are the great majority of men! If they are rich, they at once desire honors; and if these are obtained, they are still unhappy; for never can that heart be satisfied which seeks anything but God."  -  Zélie Guérin Martin, mother of St. Therese of Lisieux

Gospel Text: (MT 19:23-30)

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich

to enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Again I say to you,

it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle

than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,

"Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said,

"For men this is impossible,

but for God all things are possible."

Then Peter said to him in reply,

"We have given up everything and followed you.

What will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you

that you who have followed me, in the new age,

when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,

will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,

judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters

or father or mother or children or lands

for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,

and will inherit eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

God is not interested in money! He has the whole universe. God loves holiness, and goodness, and purity, and truth, and integrity, and gentleness, and modesty, and righteousness, and mercy, and peace, and joy, and meekness. He doesn’t love the pound and the Euro and the dollar and the yen and the ruble. The righteous God loves righteousness.

Money, money, money! What terrible things are done for money. It can buy a lot of things, but there are some things it cannot buy. Money can buy a bed, but not sleep. Money can buy books, but not brains. Money can buy food, but not an appetite. Money can buy a house, but not a home. Money can buy medicine, but not health. Money can buy amusement, but not happiness. Money can buy finery, but not beauty.

Do you have what matters most? What is your attitude toward your money? Do you love it? Do you want to hang onto it? Are you doing all you can to increase what you have and to add more to it? Or, do you see money as a tool to be used in your service of the Lord? That’s what money’s for.