REFLECTION
Eighteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time
August 3-4, 2019
We are a people of possessions. We measure our success by what we have, and our failure by what we do not have. We even mark the events in our life by the things we have been given; money for our first lost tooth and our first communion, birthday and Christmas presents, our first car, or our first home. Think of what we always carry with us—money, credit cards, cell phone, car and house keys. We gather things unto ourselves with an insatiable appetite. Yet no matter how much we own, those things do not satisfy us. We are always left wanting.
Jesus warns us, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions. If life is not about an accumulation of things of what does it consist? Jesus showed us by His own life. He openly and unconditionally shared with others His friendship and love. With His words and actions our Lord modeled for us a life of generosity.
I we take stock in our own life, we will discover that what is most important to us are those times and feelings shared with others. They are of little value in a monetary sense, but they are more precious than gold. All the possessions in the world will never equal the love we share with our family, friends and, most especially, God.
If that is true, then why do we spend so much time chasing money and so little time building relationships? In the end, what job we held, the car we drove, house we reside in, and wealth we accumulated will count for nothing in the true inventory of our life on this earth. When we stand before the Lord, we will be reminded of Christ’s words, “life does not consist of possessions.” Of what will our life consist?
Patrick J. Perkins
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