Daily Retreat 10/20/08
2008 Oct 20 Mon: Ordinary Weekday/ Paul of the Cross, p, rf
Eph 2: 1-10/ Ps 99(100): 1b-2. 3. 4ab. 4c-5/ Lk 12: 13-21
From today’s readings: “God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love He had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ.... The Lord made us, we belong to Him.... You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”
Possession Crisis
All of the Gospels, but St. Luke’s in particular, record the loving compassion Jesus showed to those who are poor, and as well as His loving warnings to those who are rich, urging them to use their wealth in charitable ways, so that it aids rather than impoverishes their efforts toward eternal life.
The parable Jesus told about the rich fool is not just intended for millionaires and billionaires - it applies to all of us who have more than we need! For, in spite of a standard of living that was hardly attainable for even kings at the time of Jesus, our materialistic society emphasizes to everyone, “You don’t have enough yet - you need more, more, more!”
But the truth is, we don’t need more! Rather, we need to share more! Instead of striving to lay up ever more wealth in stock markets and bank accounts and other earthly storehouses, we need to invest more in our heavenly accounts. As St. Ambrose once noted, “The hands of the poor and the homes of widows are storehouses that endure forever!”
Eph 2: 1-10/ Ps 99(100): 1b-2. 3. 4ab. 4c-5/ Lk 12: 13-21
From today’s readings: “God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love He had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ.... The Lord made us, we belong to Him.... You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?”
Possession Crisis
All of the Gospels, but St. Luke’s in particular, record the loving compassion Jesus showed to those who are poor, and as well as His loving warnings to those who are rich, urging them to use their wealth in charitable ways, so that it aids rather than impoverishes their efforts toward eternal life.
The parable Jesus told about the rich fool is not just intended for millionaires and billionaires - it applies to all of us who have more than we need! For, in spite of a standard of living that was hardly attainable for even kings at the time of Jesus, our materialistic society emphasizes to everyone, “You don’t have enough yet - you need more, more, more!”
But the truth is, we don’t need more! Rather, we need to share more! Instead of striving to lay up ever more wealth in stock markets and bank accounts and other earthly storehouses, we need to invest more in our heavenly accounts. As St. Ambrose once noted, “The hands of the poor and the homes of widows are storehouses that endure forever!”
posted by FrPitstick | 10/18/2008
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