Word to the Wise
Friday, September 19, 2025 - Friday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 6:2c-12 and Luke 8:1-3]For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. [1 Timothy]
The two Letters to Timothy and the one to Titus are known as the "pastoral epistles." While they are written in the name of Paul, they represent a somewhat later development in the church, showing definite hierarchical organization. Nevertheless, they are intended to encourage and remind a church leader, known for his association with Paul, of the importance of integrity and faith in his role as a leader. In our own day, while bishops, priests and deacons should pay special attention to the encouragement and admonitions, they are not the only ones who can benefit from these letters.
The Gospel According to Luke is especially noted for its warnings on the dangers of great wealth to Christian faith and practice. The parables of the Rich Man and Lazarus and the Rich Fool are examples. Great wealth is often accompanied by great power which, in its turn, can corrupt even well-intentioned people. The passage from the First Letter to Timothy today points to this tendency. Given the miserable state of the majority of the world's population (compared with even the most basic standard of living in the USA), the acquisition of great wealth and its maintenance raises serious questions about its compatibility with Jesus' teachings. How much is enough?
There is great fascination with the lives of "the rich and famous." But wealth and fame in the present age can blind one to the needs of one's neighbor, who like Lazarus, may be sitting on our doorstep. The line from Matthew 25, Lord when did we SEE you hungry, etc. could serve as a reminder to us of that blindness. AMEN