Most of us were taught to save for a rainy day. Of course that meant for our rainy day, not someone else's. Since millions in the world are having rainy days of deprivation, starvation, and death, there's no need to save for their rainy days. They desperately need the money now. Savings accounts, insurance policies, and investments throw off God's economic system. He's giving everyone their "daily bread," but some are hogging extra while others are deprived.

We're not owners but stewards. We have no right to hold back God's gifts. By doing this, we create other people's rainy days by our unauthorized planning for the future. That's why the Lord condemned as a fool the man who had "blessings in reserve for years to come" (Lk 12:19). We likewise are not only soon to die but are causing others' premature death through our disruption of God's economic system. God plans as a mother cooking the family meal, making enough for everybody. All the family has to do is share. If the first one to get the bowl takes too much, the last one goes without. Since we pray: "Give us today our daily bread," let's act accordingly (Mt 6:11).

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 2007

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