The readings today focus on a fundamental teaching of the Catholic faith: true salvation can only be attained through Jesus Christ. We may prefer not to dwell on this inconvenient and unpopular truth, especially when we live amongst those who do not believe it, when various enlightened teachings hold sway over our collective consciousness. However, the first reading is clear - Christ, the Lamb of God, is the only one capable of breaking the seals. Those of us who believe and have been redeemed by Him come from every race, language and nation; we have been made kings and priests, meant to serve God and act as His stewards in the world.

The Gospel reading presents us with the flipside of that vision: Jesus lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem. Although they were waiting for the Messiah, they did not recognise Him, and rejected His message of peace. In the hustle of life, we may find ourselves losing focus on who we are and what we are meant to do in this world. The readings today are a reminder of what should be most important to us as followers of Christ, redeemed by His blood, and what awaits us if we forget the salvation He offers us.

As we continue to pray for the proper use of wealth, let us also examine the principles by which we manage our own wealth, and how well we live up to being stewards of God's Will.