the revelation of the father - week 20

S E S S I O N 20Money and

Trust in Divine Providence

We are still early in our Lenten Journey.

We have a goal: Transform our hearts into the fertile soil that God can use to make fruitful.

The Daily Lenten Program1. Begin the day with a consecration of the

day and ourselves to God.2. Practice Lectio Divina using the

Scriptural passages and starter meditations provided.

3. Recitation of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

4. Brief examination of conscience at the end of the day.

The Weekly Lenten Program1. Seven Steps:

• Use Money for Other People.

2. Don Bosco:• Trust in Divine Providence.

3. Formation:• Human Formation

4. Sacrifice:• Eat dinner every night with your family and

make a donation that benefits children (Salesians of Don Bosco).

• “Parents should teach their children to subordinate the ‘material and instinctual dimensions to interior and spiritual ones.’ Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children” (Catechism #2223).

• The human person must be formed in the virtues, especially temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude.

• Virtue is more predictive of future success than IQ scores.

• Children learn virtue from their parents.

Natural Formation and Virtue

It’s time to talk turkey. There are only two issues with money – making money and spending

money.

A Different Marshmallow Test

Bachelor Degree

High School Degree

$10

$20

$30

Med

ian

In

com

e:

2012

(Th

ou

san

d o

f D

oll

ars

)

45-5425-34 35-44 55-640

$50

$60

65+

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012, Table PINC-03.

$40

No Degree

20

40

60

Hou

seh

old

In

com

e:

20

12

$300k$100k $200k $400k0

80

100

$500kSource: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2013, Table HINC-06.

Income Distribution in the United States

Top 2.4% Top 1%

20

40

60

Hou

seh

old

Wealt

h:

2012

$0.5M $1.0M $1.5M0

80

100

$2.0MSource: U.S. Census Bureau, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011, Wealth_Tables_2011. www.politicalcalculations.blogspot.com

Wealth Distribution in the United States

Top 3.7% Top 1%

Con

sid

ers

Self

Wealt

hy

(%)

Sources: UBS Investor Watch, “What is ‘wealthy?’, 3Q2013.

Yes No0

25

50

75

100

Yes No

Money and Happiness• Approximately three of four individuals with

net wealth between $1M - $5M and do not consider themselves wealthy.

• Forty percent of individuals with net wealth over $5M do not consider themselves wealthy.

• Largest determinate of “being wealthy”: “No financial constraints.”

• Studies indicate that after basic needs are met (approximate $75k/yr income) there is no increase in happiness with increased earnings.

• Increased income brings increased desires.

28

72

60

40

Net Wealth$1M – $5M Net Wealth

$5M+

$20

$80

30-3425-290

Hou

seh

old

In

com

e (

10

00

s)

15-24All

$40

$60

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Table HINC-06 and HINC-02

• Young adults set standard of living expectations based upon parent’s household.

• Upon leaving their parents home, children earn approximately forty percent of their parent’s income.

• It will take two decades for their income to reach their parent’s.

• Standard of living expectations have a major influence of marriage and family decisions.

71.3

30.5

45.8

55.4

Setting Expectations for Youth

Source: Macunovich, D., “Birth Quake: The Baby Boom and Its Aftershocks,” 2002, University of Chicago Press.

Another Marshmallow Test

Steve 13.75

Pappas Burger$

Shelly 12.85Children 11.90Drink 4.80Food Cost 43.30Tax

3.57Subtotal 46.87Tip

7.03Total 53.90

Meat 6.99

Bollman Burger$

Buns 2.00Potato

1.00Drink 1.50Salad

2.00Food Cost 13.49Tax

0.00Tip KissTotal 13.49

Individual Meal 40.41

Difference$

Year2,101.3218 Years

37,823.76

Semester 5,369.00

Univ. of Texas$

Year 10,738.004 Years 42,952.00

Don Bosco experienced all the pressures that you face with money, but he understood the value of

money and its relationship to God very well.

The Pressures of a Father• Given the mission to take thousands of boys off the

streets, feed them, provide them an education and turn them into model citizens and Christians.

• “When prudence raises its head, providence goes out the window.”

• Taught boys to work and be frugal.• Placed boys with benefactors around Turin.• Trained the boys in a trade.• Opened Salesian’s print shops, cobbler shops and

artesian shops.Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls: Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana Publishers, New York, 1986.

Trust in Divine Providence• Contractor: “I’ve waited long enough. I won’t wait a

moment longer! I want my money now.”• Told to stand in line to see Don Bosco.• “Well dressed gentleman” walks past everyone else

demanding: “I must see Don Bosco at once.”• Don Bosco: “Don’t you think you should wait outside?”• Man: “It isn’t necessary.” Hands him a large wallet:

“This is for you … [say] a little prayer now and then.”• Don Bosco never opens the wallet.• Contractor comes in and demands money.• Don Bosco hands him the wallet which has the exact

amount owed the contractor.

Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls: Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana Publishers, New York, 1986, pp. 169-170.

Multiplication of the Loaves• Baker refuses to deliver additional bread to the

Oratory until he is paid for past deliveries.• Boys have no bread for breakfast and approach Don

Bosco, who demands to finish hearing confessions.• “Gather up all you can find … Put all the rolls you

have in the basket and in a few moments I’ll come and give them out myself.”

• Francis Dalmazzo, who was giving his confession, looked into the basket and counted 15-20 rolls.

• Don Bosco gave rolls to four hundred boys.• After breakfast, there were as many rolls in the

basket as before breakfast.

Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls: Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana Publishers, New York, 1986, pp. 291-293.

Multiplication of the Hosts• Six hundred boys are in Mass planning on receiving

Communion.• Joseph Buzzetti, the sacristan, forgets to put a full

ciborium on the altar for consecration. Discovers mistake as Don Bosco makes the consecration.

• Only a few consecrated hosts are in the Tabernacle.• Don Bosco gives Communion to all six hundred

boys with the few consecrated Hosts.• Don Bosco: “There were very few hosts in the

ciborium. But I was able to give Communion to all who came … Our Lord wished to show us how pleased he is with frequent and devout Communions … the miracle of consecration is even greater.”

Source: Lappin, P., “Give Me Souls: Life of Don Bosco,” Salesiana Publishers, New York, 1986, pp. 293-294.

Laying a Foundation for the Future

“I must get to the top of the mountain, but with many followers. This is my goal, my mission … My first followers were picked at random. They were virtuous and willing, but untested, and not imbued with my spirit … that is why they left me … I know now what I must do. I can rely only on those whom I have trained myself … I will gather many boys, win their affection, and train them to face hardships and sacrifices bravely. They will gladly obey me; together we shall climb the Lord’s mountain.”

Dream of Don Bosco

Source: Brown, E., “Dreams, Visions and Prophecies of Don Bosco,” Don Bosco Publications, New York, 1986, p. 44-45

Don Bosco had amazing trust in God to provide for all our needs. There is another man who

profoundly understands the goodness of God: St. Joseph.

Hearing the Cry of a Child• June 7, 1660 in Provence, France.• Gaspard Ricard, aged 22, gets lost while tending

his sheep near Cotignac, France.• Dying of thirst, he lays his head down on a rock.• “I am Joseph. Lift the rock and you will drink.”• Gaspard thinks to himself: eight men would not

be enough to move the rock.• St. Joseph repeats the message.• The rock is easily moved and a spring of water

begins to flow.• A Benedictine convent is built on the site.

We are called to build a house for the Lord that will endure after we are gone. We must use our resources wisely and teach our children to do the

same.

Practical Advice1. Give a portion of your money to God on a weekly

basis.

2. Save a defined amount of money every month.

3. Live below your means.

4. Moderate your consumption of the media, which raises unrealistic expectations.

5. No not carry a balance on a credit card. If necessary, only carry a credit card that must be paid off every month.

6. Keep $8 in your wallet that you must give away.

7. Consider Dave Ramsey courses.

If we use our resources wisely and teach our children to do the same, we will be able to build a house for the Lord that will endure long after we

are gone.

Next WeekPrayer and Finding Joy with God

Small Group DiscussionStarter Questions

1. How are you going to better develop the virtue of temperance in your life?

2. What steps can you take to increase your trust in Divine Providence?