Mam mon (mamen) noun - wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship and devotion. It was taken by medieval writers as the name of the devil of covetousness, and revived in this sense by Milton. For many literalists today’s Gospel is an indictment of all “wealth,” as if intent has no role in Christianity-at-large. In the Roman Catholic faith, we are well-schooled on the idea of culpability as in ‘”Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa” and the power of intent.

The first reading from this Seventh Sunday in Ordinary, from the Book of Leviticus, offers us another opportunity to consider our understanding of the word “love” vis-à-vis the Lord’s commandment to “…love your neighbor as yourself.” In this reading we hear: "You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

Many people don’t feel they need to go to Confession or at least don’t think they need to go to another person—a priest—to hear their confession. And this isn’t just a “modern” thing or something of our current culture. Oh to be sure, our culture has tried hard—and pretty successfully—to eliminate “guilt” from our human psyche. Guilt is consider at best as old fashioned and at worst—one of those Catholic Institutional things that hold us in our place—a sort of tether on our Free Will, if you will

This Sunday’s readings asks us to consider once again the idea of living out our Catholic Christian faith, but from a different vantage point asking a deeper question, not one that focuses on whether or not we are living out our faith but rather asking: in-and-through our words and deeds, how do we proclaim the Truths of Christ? St. Paul states, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) There are at least two thoughts we should consider: