In this Sunday gospel, Jesus says, “No servant can serve two masters – ‘God and mammon’ that is, wealth as an evil influence.” (Lk 16,13).

It is because in practical life, money is important. A witty guy once said: “Peo-ple say, ‘Money is the root of all evils,’ but they can plant it in my garden any-time.”

We need money to live, to support our families, and to sustain our churches and mission apostolates. Also, money can be used to put up companies that will provide employments. Hence, money is not basically bad.

However, with money you can do a lot of evil. For instance, corrupt politicians and government officials who amass millions and billions as presently happen-ing, bribing people, hiring goons to harass people, influencing judges’ deci-sions for money, and so on.

The danger of being rich – and this is what Christ warns against – is the at-tachment to wealth and the selfish spirit that go with it.

Remember Christ’s parable of rich man (Dives) and a beggar (Lazarus)? The rich man is “dressed in purple and fine linen”; he feasts sumptuously everyday, while Lazarus covered with sores begs, hoping to eat from the crumbs that fall from the rich man's table (read Lk 16,19-31).

Both the rich man and Lazarus have died. Their fortunes are completely re-versed. Lazarus is now enjoying the higher position, while the rich man is suf-fering in hell.

The rich man was not punished because he was rich. He was condemned be-cause of his callousness, his insensitivity to the needy as symbolized by Laza-rus.

I came across the true story of an American Catholic, Charlie De Leo, who combines his work and money concerns with gospel values.

Charlie served in the Vietnam war and after returning home, he got a job as maintenance man of the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Part of his job is to take care of the torch in the statue’s hand and the crown on the statue’s head. He has to make sure that the sodium vapor lights are always working.

But apart from his work, Charlie does other things for the Lord. He received a commendation from the Red Cross after donating his 65th pint of blood.

And since hearing of the work of the late Mother Theresa in India, he had given over $12,000 to her and to people like her.

In an interview, he told reporters, “I don’t socialize much. I don’t have enough money to get married. After I got my job, I sponsored six orphans through those children’s organizations.”

Charlie De Leo, by no means wealthy, is a living example of what Jesus is say-ing in the gospel. He works for a living, for money, but he shares it with those who have less in life.

The Lord expects us to emulate the example of virtuous Christians, like Char-lie De Leo. But the worst that happen are the rich who get richer but still rob and rip off from the poor and government taxes.

Share your blessings. A benefactor, Salvador Monroy, once wrote me, “I give because my money did not come from me alone but from God. My life in this world is limited. I have to prepare for the inevitable. I’m doing this by sharing the blessings I received from God.”

Dear readers, how about sharing. too? Chip in an amount or sponsor a semi-narian's schooling for one year. For inquiry, e-mail: [email protected].