Friday 18th September- Friday of week 25 of the year

FLEE AVARICE

1 Tim 6:2-12

A popular Yoruba adage says “when money is not at home; let no one take any decision”. Indeed, money gives answers to so many things however; there are still remains a lot that money cannot provide – salvation, peace of mind, good success, good health, journey mercies, joy etc. All these are blessings from God which money cannot buy.

It is however disheartening that people do not realise that even money is a gift from God, thus they seek money as the world gives not as the Father gives and the love for money has led so many into evils that one can never imagine. It is more disheartening that the minds of many youth have been corrupt in the search for money(1 Tim 6:10); many youth no longer want to work hard but prefer to engage in armed robbery, stealing, kidnapping, drug dealing, prostitution, assassination, money rituals, cultism, human trafficking and many such evils in their pursuit of money.

Beloved, St Paul reminds us today that we brought nothing into the world and we are taking nothing back (1 Tim 6:7). A realisation of this truth should help us to appreciate the gift of money and use it rightly. Do not be desperate in search for money but work hard and be content with whatever God blesses you with. Remember the words of the very wealthy king, Solomon: “vanity upon vanity; all is vanity” (Ecc 1:2).

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, give me the grace of divine satisfaction that I may not lose my soul as I search for money and earthly pleasure. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 285 – What is eternal happiness?

Eternal happiness is seeing God and being taken up into God’s happiness. In God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit there is unending life, joy and communion… God would like us to decide in favor of our happiness; we should choose God freely, love him above all things, do good and avoid evil insofar as we are able.

HIDE A TREASURE: “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:9 RSV-CE

Today’s readings: 1 Timothy 6:2-12; Psalm 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18,19-20; Luke 8:1-3