In the first reading today from 1 Maccabees 4, we read about the origins of Hannukah. Do you know what that Jewish feast, celebrated to this day, is all about? Read and find out! In the Gospel reading from Luke 19, we see Jesus throwing the merchants out of the temple area. The big shots wanted to have him killed, “but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.”
Do you know why the chief priests, the scribes and the leaders of the people wanted to have Jesus killed? Sure he was a rabble-rouser in their eyes, but it goes deeper than that. As we hear so often, “follow the money.” You see, these guys were getting kickbacks from all the money changers and folks selling things in the temple area. In essence, Jesus was cutting into their profits. He was bad for business.
It recently came to light that some Vatican officials were skimming money from the Peter’s Pence collection, among others. The problem is that all these folks broke the First Commandment. Money had become their god. This is a trap that is easy to fall into. Let’s pray that if we fall into it, Jesus will shake us up as well.
Father, may we never let money become our god. May we always put you first in our lives, above all things. Amen.
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