#TomorrowIsSunday (EN+ES) | What did Jesus say about money?

Fr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik / 18.09.2022

Coins from Jesus times, PhotoCredit_Fr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

Sunday, Septemer 18, 2022

Gospel of Luke 16: 1-13

EN: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091822.cfm

You can download the commentary on the Gospel and beautiful photos:

https://www.academia.edu/86838318/What_did_Jesus_say_about_money?source=swp_share

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XXV Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año C

Domingo, 18 de septiembre de 2022

Evangelio de San Lucas 16: 1-13

ES: https://bible.usccb.org/es/bible/lecturas/091822.cfm

1 Why does Jesus talk about finances?

Jesus often talked about money. As many as eleven of Jesus’ forty parables make reference to finances. However, he didn’t hang on to money, it’s not the purpose of the parables. Jesus spoke about material things in order to teach by analogy about more important, that is, spiritual things.

2 Key words

No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and mammon!

The use of the word “mammon” is not a coincidence. Some biblical scholars point out that we are dealing here with the so-called paronomasia, that is, an association with a well-known word. In this case, “mammon” is associated with the word “amen”. This is a dangerous association because “amen” is a religious term that means “to believe, to put one’s trust in.” In this way, “mammon” can subconsciously be brought into the religious space and even put in the place of God. Then everything becomes subordinate to it. One puts one’s trust in mammon and not in God. That is why Jesus – knowing people – warns: “You cannot serve God and mammon!”

Mammon is a trap for the one who serves it, but it is a help to the person it serves. Jesus himself said: “Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” This acquiring of friends also means almsgiving, to which the Lord God often invites us in the Scriptures.

If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,

who will trust you with true wealth?

Money is given and tasked to us. It is there to serve us, not the other way around. Jesus encourages us to make the best use of money.

3 Today.

Often a lack of transparency about finances is a problem. It is best to start with yourself and settle your business with God and people as soon as possible, especially debts. It is good to write a will even when we are still young.

1 ¿Por qué habla Jesús de finanzas?

Jesús hablaba a menudo del dinero. Hasta once de las cuarenta parábolas de Jesús hacen precisamente referencia a las finanzas. Sin embargo, no se detuvo en el dinero; no es el propósito de las parábolas. Jesús hablaba de cosas materiales para enseñar por analogía sobre asuntos más importantes, o espirituales.

2 Palabras clave

No hay criado que pueda servir a dos amos. No pueden ustedes servir a Dios y a mammón.

La palabra “mamón” no es casual. Algunos biblistas señalan que se trata de la llamada paronomasia, es decir, una asociación con una palabra conocida. En este caso, “mamón” se asocia con la palabra “amén”. Se trata de una asociación peligrosa porque “amén” es un término religioso que significa “creer, poner la confianza en”. De este modo, “mamón” puede introducirse inconscientemente en el espacio religioso e incluso ponerse en el lugar de Dios. Entonces todo se subordina a ella. Uno pone su confianza en las riquezas y no en Dios. Por eso Jesús -conociendo al hombre- advierte: “¡No puedes servir a Dios y a Mammón!”

Mamón es una trampa para quien lo sirve, pero es una ayuda para el hombre al que sirve. El mismo Jesús dijo: “Ganad amigos para vosotros con el malvado Mamón, para que cuando todo termine, seáis recibidos en los tabernáculos eternos”. Esta ganancia de amigos es también la limosna que el Señor Dios alienta a menudo en la Escritura.

Si ustedes no son fieles administradores del dinero, tan lleno de injusticias, ¿quién les confiará los bienes verdaderos?

El dinero se nos da y se nos inflige. Está ahí para servirnos, no al revés. Jesús nos anima a hacer el mejor uso del dinero.

3 Hoy

A menudo el problema es la falta de transparencia sobre las finanzas. Lo mejor es empezar por uno mismo y arreglar los asuntos con Dios y con la gente lo antes posible, especialmente las deudas. Es bueno escribir un testamento incluso cuando aún somos jóvenes.

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