It is 24th May 2018. We celebrate the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians. The readings are from James 5:1-6; and the Gospel from Mark 9:41-50. Making money by all means destroys the peace of the poor and does not bring peace to our hearts. Money has the inherent power to be greedy and indifferent to those who are vulnerable and marginalised. How have we acquired wealth brings the blessings of peace and protection? When one consciously ignores the cries of the poor and intending to be rich and wealth anyway cannot enjoy the peace of the Lord. The first reading is the warning to all of us who engage in activities that makes to be wealthy anyway not mindful of the suffering and the needy around. At the expenses of the poor if one has become wealthy, it is indeed a systematised gross abuse of the resources of the Lord. There are people who amass wealth and crush the poor and the needy very systematically in our society. God gives us the wealth to make others rich by equal sharing of the resources without exploitation. The cries of the workers are reaching Heaven and the ears of the Almighty daily. A government, a church or any institution could choose to be deaf to the cries of the workers but not God. Peace and prosperity cannot be found until we share the wealth with the ones who are less fortunate than us. Are we hoarding the wealth of the poor in our homes? Have we exploited the poor and the needy in any small way? God promises peace and blessings to those who are willing to share their wealth with the ones who are being exploited by the systems and structures of the evil society. Are we part of the same evil systems too? God rewards everyone with the attitude of sharing their wealth with the poor and the exploited. “Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire.” (James 5:3). The responsorial Psalm acclaims, “How happy are the poor in spirit, there is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt.5:3). The Gospel cautions all those who have become the obstacles to bring the lives of the most vulnerable people of the society down will be dealt by the Lord. If our wealth cannot make the lives of the poor enriched and empowered, then our wealth is rusted and condemns us to the eternal fire. “Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.” (Mk.9:50). What makes us salted in our lives is the unbiased sharing our wealth with the others. It is only by charity; our hearts are salted with peace and harmony with the others. Let not our choices and decision to hoard wealth by wrong means make someone to sin. Do our actions cause pain and suffering in others? May the Lord open our hearts and make us generous to be blessed by the Lord.

Leave a Comment