2020 HOLY WEEK IN COVID-19 ""STAY-IN-HOME"" - IN PASSION WITH CHRIST (4): Wednesday In Holy Week

Thu, Apr 9, 2020

By publisher

5 MIN READ

Text: Matt. 26:14-25.

Theme: The Value of Money.

By Fr. Chidube Ubili, OP.

1. Judas negotiated with the chief priests to deliver(betray) Jesus o them at the cost of thirty(30)pieces of silver. The chief priests paid him promptly, as they were eager to seal the deal and have it executed. In the market terms of product, seller and buyer; Jesus was the product, Judas was the seller, while the chief priests were the buyers.

—Thus, Judas sold Jesus, his Lord and Master to the chief priests, for a paltry sum of thirty(30)silver coins. Perhaps, it was a huge amount that time, 33AD. But, considering the popularity of Jesus, His miracles, signs and wonders for which He was very influential, couldn’t Judas have sought a higher price to make more money? He might have been under financial pressure, that he rushed the negotiation. However, the buyers struck a gold mine, in paying so little for a high networth “product”.

2. Money as the medium of exchange in the modern world. The value of virtually everything is now denominated in monetary terms. We need to expand our horizon of understanding of the value of money. The transaction between Judas, as a seller and the chief priests, as buyers over Jesus as the product, presents us with six(6) values of money: economic, social, spiritual, psychological, political and judicial.

3. Economic Value: Subject to the market forces of demand and supply and therefore, the interaction between buyers and sellers, the value of money is the purchasing power of money – “what money can buy”. This is the economic value of money which encompasses the cost of all efforts or activities involved in generating and providing either goods(products) or services. For, the chief priests who “bought” Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, it was no doubt a good deal. But, for Judas who “sold” Him, the price might have been a mere “give-away”. Therefore, for all the stress and risks involved in selling Jesus, Judas didn’t derive much economic gain..

4. Social Value: This is the measure of how money connects or disconnects people; builds bridges or walls across diverse peoples. For a mere thirty(30) pieces of silver, Judas lost his membership of the Jesus Preaching Ministry and his office as the treasurer of the Ministry. He also lost the prestige and glamour of being a close friend of Jesus. Thus, his money, the thirty pieces of silver, had no social value.

5. Spiritual Value: This is the value measured by how money inspires the spiritual qualities that motivate love of God and love of people. The money Judas made from selling Jesus did not inspire or instill the love of God in him; nor did it motivate him to increase in any form of virtue. Instead, he became separated from God and people, so much that he committed suicide. His money has no spiritual value..

6. Psychological Value: This is the satisfaction and fulfilment derived from applying money for life’s needs. This value is experienced as the inner peace of mind derived from the awareness of having done the needful with money; both the right way and the right time. Judas was steeped in regrets and was severely depressed after selling Jesus. So, the money he made had no psychological value.

7. Political Value: This is the positive influence money can be made to bear on the structure, sharing and balance of power, for the management and administration of the society. Such is usually achieved by making conscious decisions that ensure justice, equity and fairness in the society and making robust financial provisions for the implementation of such. Judas’ selling Jesus to the chief priests and Jesus’ eventual crucifixion by the Roman authorities disrupted the order and peace of the Jewish society. Therefore, the money Judas earned did no political good for the people.

8. Judicial Value: Money is relevant for designing and enhancing the structure of a legal system( jurisprudence) and ensuring its sustainable stability. This is possible by installing but soft and hard measures such that no omission or commission impedes or limits the administration of justice. The transaction of Judas with the chief priests to sell Jesus, the trial of Jesus and His conviction messed up the integrity of the entire Jewish and Roman legal system. False charges were brought against Him. False witnesses testified against Him. Pilate, the Governor washed his hands off the case. Yet, Jesus was convicted. Hence, the money made by Judas had no judicial value.

9. During thus period of COVID-19 Lock-Down(LD) and Stay-At-Home (SAH), most people are financially stressed and barely managing to cope. Those with some reserve money in their Bank account are not able to access it at will. Its really  a tough time. But, this is good time to critically review what value we either attach to or derive from  the money we have already or desire in future.

—In other words, it does not suffice to have and dispense a certain amount of money as one wishes. More important is to ensure that we derive the fullness of value from any money we spend. Any money, no matter how small or big in amount which lacks or fails the measure of economic, social, spiritual, psychological, political or judicial values is not only wasted; but also destructive. From such money, deliver us, O Lord, that we may not go the way of Judas. Amen..

– Apr. 9, 2020 @ 10:55 GMT |