21 Feb 2021. 1st Sun Lent. Cycle B-2021. Chase Money Reports. Report No. 4.

No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Mt 6:24).

Piety and Poverty… in combo entwined;
Where Piety reigns, Poverty rules.
Pleasure and Prosperity… in combo as well;
What one gets, the other acquires too.

Why did saints need live in Poverty;
Even while they loved in Piety?
Why the religious need vow Poverty
To fulfill the bow of Piety?

Why do nations that seek the light of Piety,
Only find the gloom of Poverty?
Why do nations that lust the urge of Pleasure,
Do get to bask in Prosperity?

Why cannot Piety separate Poverty?
Why cannot Piety marry Prosperity?
Yes, Piety did try to court Prosperity,
But, Piety found Prosperity too possessive.

While Prosperity flirted with Pleasure,
Relations floundered, and unions dissolved.
While Prosperity cohabited with Pleasure,
Discontent flourished and lives drifted.

While Pleasure was draining Prosperity,
Prosperity ripped peace in Pleasure.
While Piety was enriching Poverty,
Poverty reaped peace in Piety. VSS

Poverty is renouncing the urge to want things. It is not destitution, that is, lacking critically needed things.

Go sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me (Mk 10:21).

Picture credit: The Drug Addict. Getty Images 908041132