Pope Francis, Money, and the Beggar with a Pewter Spoon

Early on a Sunday morning I was preparing for an interview on Catholic Talk, Relevant Radio ® and scanning the news feeds and noticed a headline story mentioning Pope Francis who said “…Christians must denounce sins committed in the name of money and power.” (1) The story appeared on April 15^th, the day we usually meet the deadline for submitting our tax payments to the IRS.

The Pontiff goes on to say, “The world has enough wealth to feed, house and offer medical care to all its inhabitants, but resources are concentrated in the hands of a few people and millions of others struggle to survive.”

This comment certainly refutes the idea that Western ideals can lift the continent of Africa and other poor countries out of poverty, by encouraging abortion and distributing artificial contraception as a condition of accepting food and clean water. Poverty is not reduced by forced sterilization and population control, but increasing funds for education and loosening the grip of natural resources by powerful, mostly political regimes.

It also made me think about the differences between money, wealth, riches and power. Once again, Christians find ourselves with a contradiction in there are many faithful readers praying for more money, more wealth, more riches, more power… including me!

How do we reconcile the relationship between wealth, riches and power, while struggling to save and invest for retirement or leave a modest legacy behind for our family while simultaneously following the words of our shepherd Pope Francis?

I believe I found the answer in two scripture verses, and two examples from a Saint we can meditate on when discussing money, riches and power.

Parable of Rich Young Man. Matthew 19:16-22; “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus basically recites the 10 Commandments, and in the end instructs to Young Man to “…sell what you possess and give it to the poor. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions”.

The Faith of the Centurion. Matthew 8:5-13;“Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he come. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith”.

The difference between these two parables is the faithful Centurion was detached from his power and authority, while the rich young man was not detached from his wealth and possessions.

I look to the writings of St. Josemaria Escriva, the Founder of Opus Dei as he shares two stories in the book Friends of God, #123, Detachment (Scepter) because I believe detachment is the key to understanding how Christians should act to properly understand money, power, riches and wealth. There is a difference between detachment and neglect.

In one story, St. Josemaria Escriva compares a beggar who would visit a soup kitchen daily and eat the scraps left behind by other beggars with a pewter spoon he kept in the fold of his tattered garments. The beggar “licked, polished, and coveted this pewter spoon”, and “…the wretchedly poor beggar, who among his companies in misfortune thought himself to be rich.”

In the second example Escriva shares a story of a wealthy woman born into Spanish aristocracy. She lived in a mansion, but spent next to nothing on herself and paid her servants well. The woman had many of the goods which many people are anxious to obtain, but she personally was poor. She was “given to mortification and completely detached from everything”. Escriva closes with the paraphrased words of St. Paul in Philippians 4:13;

 ^“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Tax time is frustrating for many families as large checks are sent to the Internal Revenue Service. Americans will collectively spend more on Federal and State taxes on taxes in 2018, than we do on food, clothing, and housing combined. Many families need more reliable cars, a few home repairs and an updated wardrobe. Some have robust retirement accounts, while others have none.

Regardless of our financial state in life, it’s okay to pray for a better job, more money or a promotion elevating our corporate “power”; but simultaneously we should strive to live as the woman of aristocracy and detached from power as the Centurion; rather than behaving as a beggar lusting over a worthless shiny pewter spoon made of tin.

1. http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/04/15/christians-must-denounce-sins-committed-in-the-name-of-money-and-power-says-pope/