--- title: God and Mammon? Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time description: Marcellino D’Ambrosio offers a reflection on Sunday’s gospel. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/03/01/god-and-mammon-eighth-sunday-in-ordinary-time#) # God and Mammon? Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mar 1, 2014 3:00:15 PM  |  by [Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/marcellino-dambrosio-ph-d) [Readings for March 2, 2014: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time](http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030214.cfm) In the ancient world, most peoples believed in a universe populated by many gods.  However, even without the help of biblical revelation, Greek philosophers figured something out.  There could only be one Supreme Being, only one almighty and omnipotent Ruler of all, only one God. In the twelfth chapter of Luke, Jesus asks a question.  Whom do you serve? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or that god called “mammon?”  You can only have one God. We all know mammon has something to do with money.  But the word he uses here is not the common word for money.  Mammon means unjust gain, greed, or money made an end in itself, an ultimate value, a controlling force. Some people use money to provide for their family.  Others sell out their family, their country, their integrity . . . for money.  This is where money becomes mammon, a relentless god that demands that all bow before it and offer sacrifice. If you review all the Old and New Testament texts that deal with wealth, you find a recurring theme.  Woe is the man who trusts in his great wealth.  Riches are not a reliable foundation to build on when it comes to eternal or even present security.  America was once wise enough to put “in God we trust” ***on*** its money.  Only the fool puts his trust ***in*** his money. When Jesus points to the lilies of the field who neither toil nor spin, don’t get him wrong.  He is not encouraging us to quit toiling and spinning.  St. Paul berates those in Thessalonica who used trust in God as an excuse for laziness, idleness, and irresponsibility.  In contrast, he offers an example to the faithful by his work day and night to support himself so he is not a burden on anyone else.  Those who do not work should not eat, he says (2 Thes. 3:10). So Jesus is not trying to get us to stop working.  He is telling us to stop worrying.  Worry is a kind of recurring fear.  And the most frequent command of Jesus in the four gospels is, “Do not be afraid!”, more literally translated “Stop fearing!” We are more precious to God than the lilies of the field.  If he will provide for them, how much more will he provide for us!  There are times that he will provide manna.  Other times, he will provide work.  We should gratefully accept whatever he provides and work hard.  But we must labor in confidence, not in anxiety.  For the love of God, not the love of money.  For His glory, not for our own. ***Copyright 2014 Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.*** *This was originally offered as a reflection on the scripture readings for the 8th Sunday in ordinary time, cycle A (Isaiah 49: 14-15; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34) and appears here by permission of the author.* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F01%2Fgod-and-mammon-eighth-sunday-in-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F01%2Fgod-and-mammon-eighth-sunday-in-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F01%2Fgod-and-mammon-eighth-sunday-in-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=God%20and%20Mammon%3F%20Eighth%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20Time) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F01%2Fgod-and-mammon-eighth-sunday-in-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F01%2Fgod-and-mammon-eighth-sunday-in-ordinary-time%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![CatholicMom Logo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/favicon-catholicmom.png) ### [Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D.](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/marcellino-dambrosio-ph-d) Marcellino D’Ambrosio (aka Dr. Italy) is a New York Times best-selling author, Catholic speaker, pilgrimage leader, and theology professor. Connect with him at dritaly.com or @DrItaly. ## Related Blog Articles [ How Narrow! 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/08/24/how-narrow-21st-sunday-in-ordinary-time-cycle-c) [ Why Humility Opens Doors: 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/08/31/why-humility-opens-doors-22nd-sunday-in-ordinary-time-cycle-c) [ Deaf Hear and Mute Speak: The Meaning of Miracles--Reflection for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/09/05/deaf-hear-and-mute-speak-the-meaning-of-miracles-reflection-for-the-23rd-sunday-in-ordinary-time) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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