Were you among the millions of Americans who bought a MegaMillions ticket on Tuesday, October 23 when the jackpot hit $1.6 billion? Were you among the good Christians who vowed to give it away in a true act of charity? 

I had a rude awakening Wednesday morning. It wasn't that I lost the MegaMillions (which I did). It was what I heard on KVIO, Our Lady of Victory Catholic Radio in Lubbock, 102.9 FM.

I heard a clip from Dr. Ray Guarendi and Father Larry Richards. Dr. Ray asked Father Larry, why wanting money is a sin. Father Larry replied, wanting money isn't a sin, it is the love of money that is a sin. I'm sure you've heard that before. Dr. Ray had. So he countered back, "Well, I don't love money, I just want a lot!" to which Father Larry said, "Someone who wants a lot of money is empty inside." They think money can fulfill them, but it can't. 

Is that difficult to hear? If you want money, you are empty.

Do you tell yourself "But if I were to win, I could be so generous!" 
Be generous now.

"But if I were to win, I could quit my job and serve the poor."
Do that now.

Money is not our motivation. Jesus is. Serving Jesus should be our motivation. It should be what fills us with joyful anticipation like the night before a lottery drawing. It should be what consumes our thoughts and our hearts. 

They say people who win the lottery are bombarded with requests from long distant relatives or complete strangers. Strangers start knocking on their door looking for handouts. Isn't it our mission for people to seek us out? Not as lottery winners, but as disciples of Christ. As people living a life worth living! Isn't this how the early Church was formed? A grassroots effort of evangelization. 

When you're living a life of stewardship people will be asking you what your secret is. They will ask if they can have what you have. And they can. Everyone can have eternal life with Jesus Christ! If they are willing to return to God every gift they have received. 

I'll leave you with the visual Father Larry mentioned on the radio. He said we often pray with our hands cupped asking God "Please give me what I need and want". Then we take what he gives us and walk away. Instead, we should keep our hands open and add "and take what you need from me". Please give me what I need and want and that what you need from me.

Bishop Robert Coerver's favorite prayer from St. Ignatius of Loyola prays just that:
"Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given it to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me."