Page 91 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

Love of Money Is at the Root of All Evil ourselves and love each other while at the same time
knowledge given to us by God. We cannot love

Reflections by Bishop Mathieu Madega Lebouakehan taking advantage of our brothers and sisters. This
is an impossible situation. Mothers and fathers love
their children and ask their help for the family’s well-
being at times. But because of love and the desire to
share our lives, we do not take advantage of our chil-
dren. If love is lacking, a desire to exploit each other
and trample one another will arise.
Uprooting the love of money

Since the One who started us on this journey
wants us to be accountable for our companions —
He said to Cain: “Where is thy brother Abel? (Gen-
esis 4:9) — we must wake up. It is God who tells us,
through St. Paul, that the love of money is the root
of all evils. (1 Timothy 6:10.) We must ask for the
supernatural grace needed to uproot and kill this
love of money which we have.
I refer emphatically to the love of money within Jesus and the rich young man
us. Let me explain. We wear many things, such as make matters more difficult, Jesus tells us that it is
hats, scarves, glasses, jewelry, belts, shirts, pants, easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
shoes, etc. Although they are useful items, we wear than for a rich man to go to Heaven. He who says
many because we love them. For example, for those these things did not come to entertain us. The words
who wear eyeglasses, do you wear them because you are serious ones. Jesus gave us the weapons to get
love them? Probably, not; you love the sense of sight. to Heaven. Let us all remember to make an effort.
Since eyeglasses are a means to sight, you wear them. These thoughts explain why most religious orders
Just as eyeglasses are useful, I would like and groups and consecrated lay persons who wish
that money be considered in the same manner, as to answer God’s call also take a vow of poverty as
well as vows of obedience and chastity.
something useful. Money is useful in the exchange
of goods. We must first seek to remove the love of The love of poverty
money within us and spread the message. When we This may be why the One who created all things
correct the monetary system, all things will become said: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness there-
easier. Consider that eyeglasses are called corrective of: The world and all they that dwell therein” (Psalm
lenses. They help correct our vision. 23:1). When He became flesh and was born, there
God tells us, through St. Paul, that the love of was no place for Him at the inn, and He was born in a
money is not a good thing. Also the Church, our stable. This sober thought should intrigue and guide
Mother, through our Popes and saints, tells us what us to use earthly goods respectfully, since they are
we must be aware of. a gift from God. Gifts from our beloved bring us joy,
This brings to mind a serious matter: The choice and so we must respond with joy when we receive a
of following Jesus or not following Him. There is in gift from Heaven.
the Gospel someone many times better than I and May the world that God gave us to sustain us not
perhaps better than all of us. This man followed all destroy our love for He who gave the gift. I would
the Commandments, including loving his fellow man. add that we must not cut off the hand of the gift giver
It is the story of the rich young man (Matthew 19: when accepting that which He offers, particularly if
16-30) who tells Jesus: “All of these I have kept from we want more gifts. Rather, let us open our hands in
my youth”. It could be said that he was a saint since order to receive the gift. The misuse of earthly goods
his youth. He asks Jesus what he must do and Jesus is the same as cutting off God’s hand while saying:
answers: “Go, sell what thou hast, and give it to the “We care only for the gift. You — You can leave.
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and We have spoken about God and the saints. Let
come follow Me”. (Matthew 19: 21.) As we know, the us now talk about Louis Even, a man who had taken
young man left, saddened because he owned much vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. He discov-
wealth. ered a joyful manner to live and teach this poverty to
Dear friends, if you are extremely wealthy, if you those around him by saying that Social Credit is the
are a banker, etc, I do not wish this on you. Perhaps right way to live the Gospel’s teachings about pov-
you are already honest in your dealings and have fol- erty and works of mercy. These will be the test for
lowed the rules whether they are positive or not. To reaching Heaven (Matthew 25). u

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