The Catholic Calendar for Monday, October 22, 2001
Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Romans 4:20-25
Psalm 4:20-25
Luke 12:13-21
Full text: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
A Reflection on Today's Scripture:
A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
(Lk 13:15)
Jesus warns the young man who comes seeking "justice." He wanted a
fair division of the property left by some legacy. Jesus says,
clearly repudiating worldly power, "Who set me as judge or divider
over you?" Then comes the warning against covetousness.
What does it mean to be covetous? It means to prize the creation more
than the creator. Covetousness is evil, in that it not merely wishes
for better material goods but it desires them at the cost to another
person. Covetousness is another way in which we begin to objectify
people. When we are covetous, we regard another person as an obstacle
to what we wish to have or accomplish. Covetous people have come to
the mistaken conclusion that more material goods will make them happy
or secure.
In the parable that follows, Jesus points out that material goods
have a limited usefulness for security. We never know when we will be
called to account. If we have spent our lives wrangling over these
perishable goods, we will not have had time to turn to God in love.
Covetousness is evil because it distracts us from our true purpose in
life: to love God. Rather than prizing material goods, we should make
a prize of the time we are able to spend with God. More material
possessions often mean more time caring for material possessions. We
often say we own a car or a house; but if we look at the time we
spend caring for them, it is rather more true that they own us.
Why, then, acquire more things that require more of our attention?
Instead, abandon all things for the one thing that endures: God's
perfect, perfecting love. When we begin to look with covetousness,
let's spend a little extra time at Mass, in adoration of the most
blessed sacrament, or in moments of gratitude for the unowned beauty
of nature. The best cure for covetousness is loving the source of all
that we could ever want.
- JuandelaCruz, TOC ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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