Reflections for August 4, 2019

Gospel: (Luke 12:13-21)
Jesus said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink and be merry!’” But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” Thus it will be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”

Reflection:

The rich man in the parable would have had enough in his present storehouses; seeking more, he builds more storehouses only to die and not enjoy his abundance anyway. We work hard for what we think is important to us, but we may end up with nothing because we have missed the whole point: life. We tend to think we can provide for our own future, but the gospel reminds us that the future is God’s. What we struggle all our lives to learn is that life does not consist of possessions nor our perceived security, but of being possessed by God. We belong to God and God can demand an accounting of us at any time. The only security we truly possess is a loving relationship with God. (Living Liturgy, p.184)

Vincentian Reflection:

“We as followers of St. Vincent must not forget the emphasis which he put on the virtue of simplicity. Simplicity is speaking and acting always with God alone in view. God is touching our lives at every moment of the day, and we are touching Him. He is particularly close to us in the Church, in the Sacraments and in the poor. If we wish to be sensitive to the presence of God in our lives, we have to recall His presence frequently. We have to give ourselves moments of stillness and reflection in the midst of our work and our lives, so that we can become more conscious that it is in God that we live and move and have our being at all times.” (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 427)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence)

How have you learned that life does not consist of possessions but in knowing that it is in God that we live and move and have our being?

Closing Prayer:
Lord, keep our hearts clean and our vision clear,
-as you mold us into authentic witnesses of your love.
Lord, keep our hearts clean and our vision clear,
-so that we may be free from greed and selfishness.
Lord, keep our hearts clean and our vision clear,
-as you renew us with the truth of your Gospel. Amen