DEACON 11: Charity and Riches

DEACON 11

“Riches”

If he was going to talk about riches, this was going to be good. I listened intently and he began…

“Riches…  Everyone wants to be rich, and yes, some want to be rich and famous too. But let us say that you strike it rich, then what? If you suddenly won the lottery and were given several million Euros, what would you do? You are obviously not used to having money so you do not know what to do, but you think you know how to spend it, right? But here is what will occur… You will begin spending left and right without thinking of anything else than the next toy you will acquire. A fancy foreign car, a boat, a new house, jewellery, trips abroad, stays in luxury hotels and visits to theatres, bars and parties. And of course you now think you can hang out with the “beautiful” people. Naturally after all this frivolous spending in a few short years, or perhaps even a few short months, depending upon how much you splurge, you’ll have nothing and you will end up more poor than when you started.

“And why? Simple, because life just does not work that way. Statistically what I have described above is a sad reality among lottery winners. The thought, and the mad desire for richness is an addiction, a disease. The brilliance of perceived gold blinds one’s eyes. The weight of actual gold (and I am using gold as a metaphor for money in general terms) in one’s hands makes the soul heavy. It makes the heart hard and cold, makes one selfish, vain, corrupt, and opens one’s spirit to negativity. And please, do not misunderstand me, I am not talking about the finances that we need to live a decent, clean and comfortable life. After all Jesus said that God wants us to life a life of abundance. It is written in St. John 10:10: «The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.«

“So let me tell you what Jesus taught. Firstly he stressed that we should love one another, “A new command I give you: Love one another”, as it is written in St. John 13:34. And to love our neighbour, and we all know that our neighbour is that person who needs us and who helps us. In St. Luke 10:29–37 Jesus clearly defines anyone around is as “neighbour”. But Jesus also said we should love those who hurt us as well as one can read in St. Luke 6:27-28: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” This is the root of all of his teachings. If we have no love then we cannot grow as charitable beings. Without love there is no justice or the way towards knowledge.

“Secondly Jesus urged us to search for the Kingdom of God which is not a kingdom of this world, but a spiritual place of justice, brotherhood and eternal peace. To search it one must search for justice through our love.

“Thirdly Jesus said that we should not be looking to clear away the splinter from our brother’s eye without first removing the beam from our own, («Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the beam in your own eye?” St. Matthew 7:3-5).  We shouldn’t be looking to find faults in our brethren or to criticise their errors. On the contrary, we should attempt to correct our own errors, our own faults, and we’ve many. And should we confront someone about their faults, mistakes, errors, wrongdoings etcetera, we should do it with humility not pride.

“Fourth, Jesus stressed purity of heart which allows us close proximity to the Kingdom of God and to true happiness, (“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”, St. Matthew 5:8). And how on earth does someone do this? One way is through silent prayer in a private place without pretentiousness. Keep your heart far from hypocrisy, speak the truth and avoid bad or evil intentions.

“Finally, don’t be attached to riches. Non-attachment is the key to entering the Kingdom of God. Remember that Jesus said, as recorded by Saint Luke 18:25 that, «it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God«. And he who denies help to a needy one will find the doors to the Kingdom closed, St. Luke 6:29-36, “Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

“So, if you are still dreaming of the lottery, my friend, you are on the wrong track and a freight train is coming your way. I would suggest you, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” And now you know how to do it.

C.2025, Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 28/29 MAR 2025 – Valencia, España