In this Gospel, Jesus presents us with a fundamental choice that each one of us must make: we cannot serve two masters.

Perhaps deep down, we hold on to the subtle belief that we can. We think that selfishness can coexist with love, that always wanting to be right can be compatible with self-giving, and that allowing ourselves to be driven by our appetites and attachments does not prevent us from giving ourselves to others. We may even think that it doesn’t matter if we give in to our disordered tendencies and make no effort to overcome them simply because that’s the way we are.

Deep down, we struggle to give up this inner ambiguity and want to keep sitting on the fence. But Jesus is very clear: we cannot serve both God and money; we cannot give our hearts to two different things. That is why we need to examine our hearts honestly and discover what has taken God’s place in our lives.

In marriage, we cannot expect to build a true communion while keeping areas of our lives where selfishness reigns. We must choose between continuing to feed our ego, our desire for control and our own interests, or following Christ, who teaches us to love, to die to ourselves and to give ourselves for the good of the other.

And today the question is: Whom do I truly want to serve?

Jesus invites us to make a genuine choice. And that choice becomes real every day in our marriage: when we give up the need to be right in order to seek the truth, when we overcome our pride to ask for forgiveness, and when we stop pursuing our own interests in order to give ourselves to the other.

Because we cannot serve Love while remaining slaves to our own egos.

Applied to Married Life

In a conversation between husband and wife after their time of prayer together:

Sarah: You know, Sam? I still don’t quite understand what Jesus means when He talks about making friends for ourselves with worldly wealth.

Sam: I think what He is trying to tell us is that all the material possessions we have are still gifts from God. And since He distributes them as He wishes, rather than according to our own merits, they can be understood as unjust wealth.

Sarah: Unjust? But we both work honestly to earn our money!

Sam: Yes, you’re right, Sarah. But even our jobs are the result of the circumstances God has placed us in and the gifts He has freely given us. And, as gifts, they also come with a responsibility. Jesus invites us to share our earthly possessions without becoming attached to them, and in doing so, to build up treasures in Heaven.

Sometimes we become so preoccupied with saving, having more or securing our future that we forget about the needs of others. We even argue about how we spend our money, or you try to impose on me how I should save and spend less.

Sarah: Oh, my goodness! I hadn’t even realised… Could it be that I’m putting my heart in money? Do you think I’m becoming too attached to it and putting it first, above you and God?

Sam: Hmm, darling… Isn’t it wonderful that we can recognise what we’re doing and try to put things right? I suggest that we review our income and expenses together, in the presence of the Lord and in the light of this Gospel, and honestly consider which expenses are essential and which are unnecessary. Look, to begin with, I admit that I’m a bit of a spendthrift…

Sarah: And I… I’m a bit tight-fisted!

Sam: What matters is that we both know we want to serve God, not money. And the possessions we have, which the Lord has given us through our work, can also be used to love others: by helping someone in need, being generous with our family and sharing with those who have less.

In this way, money, which so often divides us, can become an instrument of communion.

Sarah: It’s so important that we start with ourselves! What belongs to me shouldn’t be mine alone. We need to learn to manage everything together, always seeking what is best for both of us.

Sam: Yes, because true wealth isn’t about having more, but about learning to love and give ourselves without holding anything back. In this way, we will build up treasures in Heaven and be welcomed into the eternal dwellings.

Mother,

Teach us to give ourselves wholeheartedly to our spouse, our family and others, so that we may live by loving as God loves us and thus bear abundant fruits of Love.

Blessed and glorious are you, Mother! Praised be the Lord for ever!