Will the "Wolf of Wall Street" prevail over the Gospel? Am I ready for Lent?

The Wolf may get an Oscar. It is an over the top ode to greed. It does enshrine money as God in the life of its pursuer.

And in today's Gospel Jesus proclaims: "You cannot serve God and money."

Other wise persons echo his proclmation:

"The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed." Gandhi

"When Jesus comes back, those crazy, greedy capitalistic men are going to kill him again." Mike Tyson

"There are no pockets in shrouds." Anon.

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should be empty, open choiceless as a beach, aiting for a gift from the sea."

Ann Murrow Lindbergh

But we have to make a living and that requires money!

Getting back to the Gospel, notice that Jesus is dismissing excessive worry over what we shall possess: and so"do not worry about tommorow..." easily said but difficult to do.

Ann Lindbergh says we should be like a beach: empty, awaiting fulfillment. This pertains to the spiritual discipline of "letting go."  When we do let go, there is a paradox: then we become filled with what?

 With inner peace, contentment. Rich men like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have found cotentment in setting up charitable trusts for various charities.

Greed shrinks our souls. Generosity expands our horizons.

ASH WEDNESDAY, March 5, 2014

Lent is not a season to shrink, and confine our life force.

Rather it is a special time to expand our love and generosity. Alms Giving has always been a most integral part of our Lenten pracice.

When Easter comes, will I be mre vibrant, more generous, more other directed than I am now?

Lent is our journey from ashes to glory.

"Remember man; remember woman, that you are dust and to dust you shall return!"

In Ash Wednesday dirt, plant the seeds of generosity and compassion and then expect an Easter blooming.

Breakfast Question: What new seeds shall I plant?

Personal Reflection: What do I need to let go of so that I might be like "an empty beach awaiting a gift from the sea?