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Sunday, March 2, 2014

It's Always About the Money.






Idoltry is found in the human heart.  Many people can easily say that they worship God, but if we were to closely examine our hearts, is God truly first?  Some people would put their jobs first.  In this case, they would be worshiping their job.  Anything that is put first (including "backup plans') before God is already worshiping an idol because they have no trust in God. 

In his book entitled Why Enough Is Never Enough: Overcoming Worries About Money - A Catholic Perspective, Gregory S. Jeffrey describes and outlines seven scenerios in which one places money first before God.  


  1. When the person often suffers from a pervasive anxiety about their finances. 
  2. When the person has a predisposition to compare his or her financial status with others.  
  3. When the person has an unwillingness to recognize his or her good fortune. 
  4. When the person displays greed. 
  5. When the person is unable to conceive of something other than money motivating his or her job performance and life's decisions.
  6. When the person has a belief that, just for the money, we must do things we are not called to do. 
  7. When the person feels discomfort when asked for alms or donations.
It is interesting to note that in the Old Testament, a tenth of a person's income must be given to the temple tax, but in the New Testament, one finds that Jesus was not interested in the amount of money that was given for the temple tax.  He was more interested in what is in the human heart. 


Mark 12:41-44  And He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums.  And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which makes a penny.  And He called His disciples to Him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."  

There are several lessons learned in just these few verses. First of all, we see Jesus sitting down opposite of the treasury, as if to purposely study human behavior.  Since he watched the multitude gave their gifts, He was there for a while.  Apparently, Jesus had an interest in money, but it wasn't in whether the temple raised enough to meet its expenses.  Jesus' concern centered on the donor, and what was happening in the heart of the person contributing to the treasury.  Jesus clearly had an interest in the heart of donor and the act of selfless generosity. Does one give money joyously without complaint or does one consistently complain about money he or she has to give to the church?  If you find yourself complaining about the money you are giving or that you are giving it grudgingly, then money has become your god.  Do you believe and trust that God will provide for you just as the Church teaches.  Or do you believe that only you, your money, savings account, and your job is the one that provides?        

A second lesson learned from this few verses is that Jesus is also saying that the poor must also contribute...not just the rich.  When Christ saw the widow pull out two coins, He didn't run to her and say "Excuse me, ma'am.  What are you doing?"  I hope you are not thinking of putting your last two coins in the treasury.  What will you eat tonight?"  Instead, He did the opposite.  He called His disciples and endorsed her behavior, which tells us that even the widow was called to selfless generosity.  God calls everyone to contribute. 

Focusing on the amount. large or small, misses the point of Jesus' message.  Christ is not concern with how much people give, only HOW much they trust in God.  The gift is a reflection of trust.  In making her gift, the widow was trusting in God's providence completely, while the rich had enough in reserve to still rely on their own wherewithal.   

There is nothing wrong with the Archbishop or the parish priest asking their congregation to give to charity.  What is wrong is griping about what or how much the neighbor gives.  One's generosity has nothing to do with the amount the neighbor contributes. It is important for the flock to learn selfless generosity and for the priest to teach selfless generosity to the flock, for this is what God looks for in the heart of the person.  And of course, this takes time.   

There are two characteristics found in people who have put God first in their life rather than money.  First, there is the belief that things will be okay, even in dire situations.  Periodic worry about finances is overshadowed by faith that one's basic needs will be provided by God our Father.  Secondly, this underlying faith animates a spirit of generosity that pervades every aspect of life.  
  

   
  

19 comments:

  1. Gospel today is right fit.

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  2. Give the money to Rohr and Chuck White Associate. The two pages were brought out for him specifically and to the island parishioner who wonder the little amount that they give. Did not Christ said give what the right hand does not know? Rohr mentioned that tithing or giving 10% of your does not apply because it's on the OT. This is just completely absurd and not following GOD is saying. Should we not follow the 10 commandments? It's the OT. All I know I'm building my treasure in Heaven not here.

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    1. Dear Anonymous,

      I'm not surprise when you insist that we should give our money to Mr. Rohr or Chuck White rather than the Church. They seem to be very preoccupied with money. Mr. Rohr complained and wanted the Archbishop to justify for the $250,000 Charity Appeals. He got his answer, but I already knew he would find something else to complain about. The tithing. Yes, Mr. Rohr said that the 10% of tithing doesn't apply. Don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing means that one does not need to brag or boast to everyone how much they gave.

      However, what you are unaware of is Canon Law 1262, which gives the Archbishop the right to define their fundraising needs. So, if $250,000 is defined as needed, then the Church can specify that amount to its flock and where the need is. See the weblink below on Canon Law 1262: Fundraising Appeals.

      http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-1262-fundraising-appeals.cfm

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    2. Now his nit picking the mission in Saipan, what in the world? The Archbishop is generously providing a priest to Saipan. Is he an ordained Priest from RMS? Yes, does it matter? I've been to Saipan a thousand times. People there are suffering with a lack of Priest. We all the White Tiger Rohr's propaganda is mainly aim at the neocathechumenal community. Continue this attacks and you will pay a big price with GOD not the community.

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    3. Remember those 7 scenerios I posted. A person puts money first rather than God if he/she cannot recognize their good fortune. Priests have been sent off-island to do God's will, which is to evangelize or to minister the Sacraments. And on Guam, not one Parish has shut down; yet, you still hear complaints. You hear a lot about Parishes struggling and how the Way is taking people away from the Church and how priests are being sent away; yet, not one Catholic Parish has shut down.

      Another complaint is their discomfort in giving to the Church. That's also on one of those 7 scenerios. Giving money to the Church is a problem for them.

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  3. You hit in the nail. You are correct not a single parish was shut down, this attacks are mainly brew from the Gofigan disobedience from the Archbishop. I pray for him. Imagine a rookie priest challenging the Archbishop, he is hurt because his pride was shaken.

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  4. All I can say is we don't belong here on earth, I belong to GOD. All the money will always leave our pockets. The money I saved is to prevent me from the love of GOD. I observe the mission family, they took a risk with GOD to come here for what? Not for financial gain but to serve for the LOVE of GOD. Their country that the left is beautiful, Spain,Italy etc. Our island is beautiful but no comparison to their country.

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    1. I agree. While walking in the Way for 8 years now, I have actually seen people give up money and yet still have a roof over their heads, food on the table, and a bed to sleep on. I even know someone who went to World Youth Day with absolutely no money. All the person had was his passport, luggage with clothes, a Bible, and a sleeping bag. That person did not starve to death.

      In the Holy Bible, God sent His chosen people into the desert, where there is hardly any food or water, to show the world that only He can provide. If we cannot believe this in the Bible, then where is our faith in God? The Catholic Church have always taught us never to put our faith in money, but only in God. Unfortunately, for some people, it's always about the money rather than about God.

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    2. There is couple from Agana who went to CHINA to be a mission family. Imagine CHINA, the communist party who rejects GOD. The couple shared to me if you get caught practicing your religion there, you will be put in jail. This is a local couple. Can you imagine bringing your whole family, this is worst thatn evangilizing in PRISON. No the funding did not come from Agana Cathedral it came from among themselves. So if Tim's minion read this, the money did not from you. Sorry to say.

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    3. Dear Anonymous,

      When a person is truly giving in selfless generosity, they don't make themselves known nor boast about it. In other words, it's not necessary to announce to the world that that they will pay their Parish's electricity bill by writing a check. According to Jeffrey, author of Why Enough is Never Enough: Overcoming Worries about Money - A Catholic Perspective, some people donate not from their heart but because they want to be known. They want everyone to know that it was them who put in this amount of dollars. Some donate out of competition with their neighbors,and some do it out of spite. The moment one says "I will donate to this organization, which supports my parish, but not to this organization, which supports youths in DYA, this is not selfless generosity, but pure spite.

      Christ sat opposite of the treasury, watching the multitude put money in the treasury. He was not looking at how much was contributed. He was looking into each person's heart as they made their contribution.

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    4. But donation that everyone knows equate to charity not almsgiving. You give with out anyone knowing to gain accolade. They are really misled with hate in thier heart. I pray for them.

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  5. JW Companies are not convince with the two pages written in fine print. Really, why am I not suprise. Accussation of hate? Really? No matter how beautiful the color to the blind is not going to work. The devil whisper is really strong, I don't think the neocathecumenal way has anything to do of the result of their hate blog but the Gofigan's disobedient to the Archbishop. Luther was like this and he end up erecting his church.

    The Old Man from Santa Rita.

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    1. Dear Anonymous,

      They will never be convince no matter what is given to them. As I said, I already knew that Mr. Rohr will find something to complain about even if the figures were published in the Umatuna. If the Way gives him the document he requires, that also will not convince him. He would question the Pope.

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  6. Man my heart is broken when I saw Tim Rohr's blog, I met with him nearly 20 years ago, a vigilant defender of the Church but I could not believe the mockery he has made in his blog are quite disturbing and made me change my views toward him and same goes with Chuck White. So harsh,dark and disrespectful. I did not know he had it in him. Defines a wolf in sheep skin. Heard the wife is pretty authoritarian in DOA also who has no business conducting private meeting there. Gosh horrible couple.

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  7. Here's a similar situation here in Boston. Brothers Courage do not be afraid. See link below, it's more harsh here in Guam.

    http://bostoncatholicinsider.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/neocatechumenate-questions/

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    1. Yes, it's always about the money. They are even questioning why the money is going to the Seminary. Perhaps, they don't realize that the Seminarians have to eat three times a day.

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  8. middle of the day no they think that everyone at the seminary gets paid they all work for the love of God for free. again is all speculation.

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  9. JW blog and their company reminds of the LEGIONS but the bright side GOD will send his Angels.

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  10. Even St. Anthony could not hide from the attack of the devil.

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