Mammon means money or profit. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-34), Jesus exhorts the crowd to focus on getting to heaven, not on enjoying the trappings of this world. And in the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13), the Lord tells his disciples that the road to heaven is paved not with money, but with trust, honesty, and good works. In both of these scriptures, Jesus says emphatically: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.”

Throughout Christian history, mammon has been employed as an insult or pejorative. In the early church, Saint Gregory of Nyssa equated mammon with the devil. Saint Cyprian, Saint Jerome, and Saint John Chrysostom compared mammon with greed. And during the middle ages, Peter Lombard, Dante Alighieri, and Thomas Aquinas also associated mammon with the devil and the seven deadly sins. Aquinas describes the sin of avarice as “Mammon being carried up from hell by a wolf that comes to inflame the human heart with greed.” Even now, several European languages equate mammon not just with wealth, but with greed, selfishness, and slovenly behavior.

We live in the richest country in the world. What passes for middle class here is almost unimaginable wealth and privilege in many other cultures. According to Credit Suisse, a global investment bank, there are more than 21 million millionaires in the United States. That’s nearly 39% of all millionaires in the world; and almost 9% of the population of the country. Believe it or not, Politifact also reports that nearly one-half of our elected representatives in Congress are millionaires.

Given this statistic about riches in the corridors of power, it is easy to understand how money can become a corrupt and corrosive influence. As a young man, a close friend of mine worked for a United States Senator who was almost broke when she ran for office nearly three decades ago. Her net worth now is more than $41 million. How can someone with that kind of money ever appreciate the struggle of a college student, a working family, or an elderly couple trying to make ends meet?

So how are we to understand the Lord’s teaching about money and its influence on our lives? It’s not just about millionaires, billionaires, politicians, and corporate executives. It’s about people like you and me. Over the years, I have counseled families that have been torn apart by arguments over their mother’s jewelry, their grandmother’s house, or their great uncle’s stock portfolio. I have met with engaged couples who are more concerned about financing lavish weddings than preparing their hearts for the sacred vows of matrimony. And I have talked with married couples whose families are ruined, not by an extramarital affair, but by credit card debt and out-of-control spending.

Jesus asks us to consider a different way of living. He calls us to live simply and honestly. He counsels us to live day-by-day, but with a keen focus on the path that leads to the salvation of our souls. He calls us to pray, to serve, to be grateful, to be humble, to be merciful, to thirst for truth and justice, to make peace whenever we can, to love God, and to love our neighbors in need.

In the end, life is not about money and power. It’s about love and service. Jesus reminds us over and over again that life is not about how much we accumulate, but how well we live. He tells us that the true measure of a life is not how many pennies we count, but how many prayers we offer, how many hearts we touch with our love, and how much good we do during this one short life on earth. Lord Jesus, come to assistance! Lord Jesus, show us the way! Lord Jesus, make haste to help us!

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (9-18-22)
Bringing Home the Word (9-18-22)
The Kids Bulletin (9-18-22)

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