What is the barometer (measuring instrument) that marks your closeness to God? And, is there a posture that is not fit for the kingdom of God?

Intro you to a Palm Pilot. Great tool. I have my address book in here. My daily planner here. I can record dates till Dec. 31, 2031. Memo’s to myself. Used it this past weekend to read a talk in the dark – day glow screen. All in all, it is a great tool for me. Lists where I have to be. Here is my bank register. I plug all this information into Quicken, a computer program. It divides up my spending according to category. This year, 35% - Auto payments. IRA = 20%. Credit card = 17%. Tax. 10%. Charity, just shy of 8.8% at the moment… Gives me a view of where I spend my money…

It strikes me that here are the two barometers of my life with God. The use I make of my ‘wealth’ – is measured in the time that I give to people and prayer, and the way I manage my money. I was surprised to find out how much I spent on my car payments. I wonder if there was a program that would calculate from here, how much time I spend weekly on say: Prayer vs. Personal Time, what that would show me. Or the % of time at St. Ann’s versus the Newman Center..
“What I say to you is this: “Make friends for yourself through dishonest wealth, so that when it fails you, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings...” An odd parable, isn’t it. It has been used in history to justify usury, to reject the world, and about everything in between.

At its heart – it is the same story we heard last week. The man, like the son, found himself in desperate straits. He devised a plan that would ‘rescue him’ – and finds that he receives back from God more than his scheming would ever have merited. Last week, the one become the beloved son instead of a hired hand. Today, the other, is kept on in his master’s hire as opposed to being taken in by others. In both cases, it is action that has brought about unanticipated responses from God. Both ACT. Both DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR SITUATION. So, if there is one posture that is not suitable for the kingdom, it is that of keeping your hands in your pocket.

The invitation is clear, at least to me this week. Use the “wealth” that is mine to use for what really lasts – planning for eternal life. Just as we spend time balancing this book, spend time working out how we can use our time to be better Christians. Maybe it’s to see how we can put ourselves in situations that would avoid moral problems we've had in the past. Perhaps it is to plot how we can instill the practice of our faith in our families.

For most of us, here (show Palm Pilot and Checkbook) are the two biggest barometers of our lives and therefore, our love of God – our time and our money. How will you use this wealth this week? Will you be as crafty as the steward? Will you plan and plot and ACT with this wealth to create an eternal reward? Do something with the barometer of your love for God this week – be it your planner or your checkbook or your rosary or whatever it is. Regardless of what we have or don’t have – the only posture that Luke says fails the believer – is that of standing around, doing nothing, with our hands in our pockets…