Gospel Reading for September 21, 2025 – Luke 16: 10-13
UNQUENCHABLE THIRST
Jesus said to his disciples: “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.”
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In St. Paul’s letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 6: 10), he writes, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” He aptly describes what Jesus says: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.”
It is not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of money that is the root of all evil. There is nothing wrong in needing money, but loving it and wanting it so much will just lead us to destruction not only of ourselves but others as well.
Let us make a comparison of two masters here: 1) LOVE FOR MAMMON/MONEY is an UNQUENCHABLE THIRST, a never-ending desire that can never be satisfied while on earth. One who has love for money will not stop trying to get all the money even if it will cause injustice to others and worse, even if it takes away the lives of others. It will make you so uncontrollably EVIL that it will earn you a place in hell after your death. 2) LOVE FOR GOD is also an UNQUENCHABLE THIRST, a never-ending desire that can never be satisfied while on earth. One who has love for God will not stop trying to do good to others, to ease the pain and suffering of others, and like the martyrs, will even give up one’s life for God. It will make you so uncontrollably GOOD that it will earn you a place in heaven after your death.
Which is the better master?
Lord Jesus, help us not be too worried about economic survival. We know that everything comes from God and we just have to do our best when using the gifts/capabilities we are endowed with, and he will do the rest!
