Economics of Eternal Life

Seeing our financial blessings as God’s gifts

11/20/2020

Luke 19:45-48 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

One of the hardest things for priests to deal with is church finances. We might call it the economics of eternal life. Parishioners do not like to hear about money from the pulpit, and we priests do not like to talk about money from the pulpit. It is disagreeable to discuss dollars during Mass. I remember my father complaining about a sermon on stewardship many years ago after one Sunday Mass. He said: “That’s all the priest ever talks about is money!” Since I could not remember anything a priest ever said in a sermon, I figured my father was right.

Shortly after completing canon law studies, Bishop J. Peter Sartain asked me to write a brief explanation for increasing the stipends for a Mass from $5 to $10. Do you recall that change? I was responsible for it! I said I would of course, but I also lodged a concern. I objected: “I think we priests are paid too much as it is and we do not need the increase.” I am sure my brother priests were not happy to hear me say that. But Bishop Sartain wisely explained that the increased stipends would allow priests to use the money for charity, which is what most priests do with their money. I was learning that the economics of eternal life does not have to do with how much money you have but what you do with it. We are stewards of God’s gifts, including our financial blessings.

In the gospel today from Luke 19, Jesus drives out the money changers in the Jerusalem Temple. Our Lord complains quoting Isaiah 56:7: “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” It would seem Jesus is clearly taking my father’s side saying priests only worry about money, even the Old Testament priests. But that misses Jesus' point. Our Lord was not criticizing the legitimate sacrifices stipulated in the book of Leviticus chapter 1-7. Rather, he was against the abuse of such sacrifices to make the temple priests rich. In other words, in Jesus’ day the economics of eternal life had become a booming business, indeed, it was a “den of thieves.” They were not good stewards, they were greedy sharks preying on the people; that is, “preying” spelled with an “e” not with an “a.”

My friends, does economics figure into your eternal life? That is, how do you use God’s gift of your financial blessings? Everyone’s economics has been exaggerated during this pandemic. Many people have lost hours, or even lost their jobs, and money is tight. We are experiencing something similar here at the church, with collections down 10 to 15%. But we also reduced our offices hours, and our staff salaries to absorb that shortfall. And yes, I stopped taking a salary months ago so I could lead by example. Like I told Bishop Sartain many years ago, “We priests are paid too much as it is!” But I must admit I sure am glad the Mass stipend is $10 instead of $5! And I am very grateful to everyone who has given a little extra during this downturn.

My point is do not drive a deep wedge between your economics and your eternal life; between your stewardship and your salvation. In other words, see all your blessings as gifts from God and use them for his glory and not purely for personal profit. Take a moment today and thank about your time, your treasure and your talents, and place them all at the service of Jesus Christ, and to build up his kingdom. That’s the only kingdom that will last.

Jesus was not upset with the money changers being in the Temple; he was disgusted that the Temple had become a den of thieves. Sadly, eternal life was at the service of economics, instead of economics being at the service of eternal life. We too must learn the proper balance between economics and eternal life, and that goes for both priests and people. We should come to church to pray, and it all depends on how you spell “pray.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!