8TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A

MONEY OR LIFE

A vacationing American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American casually asked.

“Oh, a few hours,” the Mexican fisherman replied.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American businessman then asked.

The Mexican warmly replied, “With this I have more than enough to support my family’s needs.”

The businessman then became serious, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, “I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs…”

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, “Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats.”

 “Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you’ll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise.”

Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will all this take?”

After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, “Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard.”

“And then what, señor?” asked the fisherman.

“Why, that’s the best part!” answered the businessman with a laugh. “When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”

“Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?” asked the young fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, “Then you could happily retire with all the money you’ve made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want.”

The mexican replied, OHH... that is what I am doing almost every day.  (Story from Stories for homilies)

Most of us want to have more money. Do you know that money is the source of evil? For example: hired killers paid to kill; many runs in politics because of money; families are arguing and even killing each other for money, and many others. Money is the source of evil. However, we can also say that money is important in our daily life. Almost everything in this world involves money: food, education, shelter, etc. therefore, money is important. It will only become source of evil if you don’t know how to use it.

Today Jesus tells us not to let money control our life. If that is the case then, you will ruin your life. The most important thing is not to have more money but to have a beautiful life. However, you can find a beautiful life only in Jesus Christ. Mag unsa manang kuarta kon patay kana?

I want to share this very beautiful story to you of what money can and cannot buy.

Money can buy a bed, but not a sleep

Money can buy Medicine, but not health.

Money can buy Books, but not brains.                    

Money can buy Luxuries, but not culture.
Money can buy Food, but not appetite.                  

Money can buy Amusements, but not happiness.
Money can buy best clothes, but not beauty.           

Money can buy Companions, but not friends.
Money can buy A house, but not a home.             

 Money can buy Flattery, but not respect.

Today we are reminded to have a beautiful life in Jesus and not to let money control us. But, still I will give you a choice to ponder: MONEY OR LIFE? I have a suggestion: MONEY AND LIFE but, do not let money ruined your life.