The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 11:17

The business of the church is spirituality, not money. Sure, the church needs money to maintain a house of worship; to offer the sacraments to the faithful; to spread the gospel where it is needed; and to bring assistance or healing to the less fortunate among us.

Still, too often we come across preachers, especially on television, who use religion as a business. In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders perverted the system of tithing by adding a temple tax, within the temple area, in order to extract more money from the congregation. They were using religion as a business. Jesus reacted to this corrupt practice, angrily, by driving the money changers out of the temple.

It is important to recognize that the real mission of the church is spirituality. A church that puts its faith in the gospel will never lack for anything; at least anything that really matters.

As the Lord says: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his approval and everything else will be granted unto you.”    

Fr. Hugh Duffy