Topic:
SERVE ONE MASTER
25C Sunday Homily,
Luke16:10-13, September 18, 2022
1) STORY
John was on his way home when he heard
a voice asking if he would like seven jars of gold. He saw no one, but his greed was aroused and
he answered yes. The voice told him to
go home where he would find the gold. Sure
enough, there were seven jars of gold all full except one which was only half
full; but he was not happy until all the jars were full. He sold all the jewelry he had and put the
gold in the jar, yet it still was not full. He skimped and starved himself and his family
for more gold and went out begging for money. He even asked the king for a raise in salary
which was then doubled. Yet the jar was
still half empty. The king noticed that
John was miserable and near starvation and asked him what was wrong. He noted that previously John was happy and
content with his former salary; but now that it was doubled, he was worn out
and dejected. The king then asked John
if he had seven jars of gold at home. John
was astonished that the king knew this and asked how he knew about the gold. The king smiled and answered that he, too, was
offered the gold only to reject the offer as the gold could only be hoarded and
not used. The king urged John to return
the gold, which he did. Only then was
John happy again, as he learned that unhappiness comes when money is our
master.
2) GOSPEL, LUKE 16:10-13
A) Jesus tells us we cannot serve both
God and mammon (money). To serve God
means to love God, love your neighbor (others), love yourself, and work for a
living.
B) To love mammon (money) is to work
and live only to increase one’s wealth while forgetting about God, others, and
self.
3) APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) We love God by doing the following
four things:
i.
Spending time in prayer, going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist and other
sacraments.
ii.
Caring for our family, relatives, friends, and the needy according to our
ability.
iii.
Caring for our health by eating properly, getting enough rest, and exercising
when possible.
iv.
Being a responsible and cooperative worker. This is what it means to serve one master,
God.
B) When our master is money, we live
for wealth and forget God, neighbor, and self. Greed blinds us and we cannot attain
happiness, joy and peace.
4) CONCLUSION
We are wise when God is our one master,
as only He brings us peace, joy and happiness.
