Greed

Lord, all this financial turmoil seems to touch my prayer in two ways.

Sometimes I feel moral indignation at the greed of the fat cats whose desire for ever-greater profits has exploited the weak. I hope that they may move from blindness to a sense of the real world of people, and realise the futility of their greed that wants more and more money. "What does it profit to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of your soul?" (Mark 8:36) But I know that such indignation is not always from the good spirit; it may be mixed with Schadenfreude in which there is little charity. I need to watch it.

At other times I feel fear and insecurity for myself and my loved ones. This pushes me to look at myself. Does insecurity make me more self-seeking and less caring about the needs of others, lessening my humanity, clouding my sense that people matter more than money? Or does this worldwide turmoil strengthen my compassion? Poverty is not good in itself, but where it leads to a deeper dependence on God and coexists with generosity it can be a rare grace - remember Jesus marvelling at the widow's mite (Mark 12:41-43).

‘Trop est avare à qui Dieu ne suffit.'
You're too greedy if God is not enough for you.

This is food for thought offered on the front page of "Sacred Space" (Link to the right)

It is indicting because of its truth, as true statements so often are. We've noticed at CRLC that the response to various invitations to assist the poor or the hungry has diminished over the last weeks. I can understand that....I'm nervous about the economy just like every other American. Like anybody else, I'm tempted to listen to those financial advisers who say: When the statements from your retirement account come in this time, just file them...don't even look at them.

How can we maintain our sense of calm and compassionate generosity. Not by focusing upon our diminished expectations of what the "dollar" will be worth a month or a year from now.

The reality is that any resources we do have will be magnified exponentially if they are surrendered to God for God to use for the amelioration of pain and suffering. That includes time...talent...and yes, money!

In times like this, the children of God sustain peace of mind and heart by clinging to God even as their dollars seem to slip away.