The primacy of a God-centred heart (Homily for Saturday of the 11th week in ordinary time year II June 22 2024

Homily for Saturday of the 11th week in ordinary time year II June 22 2024

2Chronicles 24:17-25; Psalm 89; Mathew 6:24-34

The primacy of a God-centred heart

In today's scriptural discourse, we delve into a reflection that mirrors the essence of the foremost commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." The narrative presented by Jesus serves as a poignant reminder that, despite the undeniable utility and necessity of monetary wealth, it harbors the potential to ascend to a deity-like stature. Our contemplation here is not fixated on the currency itself but rather on the disposition we adopt towards it. Jesus does not negate the feasibility of possessing wealth while concurrently serving the Divine; to assert otherwise would imply a condemnation of the affluent to spiritual exclusion. Instead, He categorically refutes the dual servitude to both the Divine and material wealth. The instant we elevate money to a sovereign role, we inadvertently relinquish our service to God.

Jesus acknowledges that the glorification of wealth as an idol stems from an innate yearning to amass financial resources to fulfill our needs and aspirations. He counsels us with a simple yet profound directive: eschew anxiety over your existence. Within this context, 'anxiety' signifies an undue preoccupation with life's sustenance as though we are the sole providers of our necessities. It is through our labor that God endows us with sustenance, as encapsulated in Psalm 127:1, which states, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." This psalm, in its entirety, is an ode to Divine Providence.

Our pursuit of wealth, when it veers towards injustice, corruption, or other moral compromises, signifies a servitude to money. When our professional commitments encroach upon our spiritual practices, when we delineate our conduct between sacred and secular arenas, when we grow indifferent to the tribulations of our fellow beings, when financial status dictates our relationships, and when profit margins eclipse ethical considerations—we are in servitude to money. This enumeration is by no means exhaustive.

There are two pivotal reasons to eschew the servitude to money. Firstly, money's role is confined to granting purchasing power—it enables acquisition but falls short of procuring life's quintessential elements such as joy, tranquility, moral integrity, restful slumber, wisdom, sanctity, and more, which the affluent can attest to. Secondly, the allure of wealth is insatiable; regardless of one's financial standing, avarice perpetually beckons with loftier aspirations, ensnaring us in an unending chase.

While it is commendable to endeavor for financial stability to meet one's needs, vigilance is imperative to ensure that the intangible treasures of life are not forfeited in this pursuit. This is the stratagem employed by malevolent forces to beguile many—a fleeting exuberance from amassed wealth is offered, yet at the expense of inner peace, inducing stress and curtailing compassion. In moments of perceived strength, let us anchor our trust in the Divine to partake in the boundless grace of Divine Providence. This is the lesson imparted by the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose heart, untarnished and devoted, finds its sole focus in the Divine.

God bless you all