Gospel Reflection for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 26th – Money, Money, Money..

Whether we realise it or not, we are constantly surrounded by the media and advertisements.   As soon as we leave our house, we are bombarded by posters on the sides of buses, and in shops that we walk past. These advertisements are telling us what to eat, what to drink, what to wear and what sort of car to drive. We are told that certain creams, lotions and make up will make us look younger and even stop us from ageing altogether! They tell us that if we are to have any standing in society, we need to buy and have what they are selling us. They are promoting and selling us a lifestyle, not a quality of life. The message they are offering us is that unless we spend and buy more things, we won’t be happy or fulfilled

However, Jesus and the gospel offer us a very different message and set of values. Our dignity and self-worth come from being created and loved by God. This is not to suggest that we ignore ourselves, our families or our jobs. Money is not the root of all evil, it is the love of money than can cause us pain and suffering. We live in the real world! Jesus is not saying that being his followers will mean that we will have a trouble and problem free life. We all need to eat well and healthy. We have the responsibility of maintaining and looking after our health at all levels. What the gospel this Sunday asks us to consider is what our priorities in life are. Do we spend all our time and put our energy into spending money, buying more things and consuming more products? Are we trying to create and live a certain lifestyle rather than peruse a deeper and richer quality of life of ourselves, our families and our friends?

There is the phrase, everything in moderation. There is no harm in enjoying the fruits of our work and labour. It is nice to treat ourselves and others once in a while. But what is the focus of our life? Is it to buy and consume more? Is it to surround ourselves with more and more material goods? In this gospel, Jesus is saying to each of personally, you are more than just a consumer of things. Your true worth and dignity comes from your relationship with God who loves you and cares for you.

Jesus tells us wherever our treasure is, there also will be our heart. This week may we prayerfully ask ourselves what we treasure and where our heart is.

•  Michael Moore OMI