Be Rich in What Matters to God October 23

Know that the LORD is God, our maker to whom we belong, whose people we are, God's well-tended flock. (Psalm 100:3)

Piety

Oh God, assist me today to be in joy because I belong to you. Help me treat myself and others as precious children of God just as you would treat me. May I spend my day rejoicing in Creation around me and learning a new respect and stewardship for all. Help me not get sucked dry with the details of what I feel must be accomplished. Jesus accomplished all that is necessary. With your help, may I spend my day doing His will rather than my own.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/102306.shtml

Jesus, in yesterday’s gospel, spoke about servant as leader. Leadership does not reside in power and authority but in humility and service. Today, He tells us that neither does it reside in things. The world’s definitions for leadership and importance are off the mark. Paul goes so far as to say that to live with these definitions is sinful – in fact deadly. We come to life by accepting the gift of salvation which Jesus freely gave. Accepting the definitions of this world distract us and detract from our intentions: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast (Eph 2:9)

In the parable, the rich farmer’s good fortune in the harvest led him to what we might call a prudent act, a good business decision. Again, this definition for Jesus is off the mark. “This night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” (Lk 12:20) Jesus’ words remind us that the riches of God have nothing to do with harvests, taking care of goods, building a good name and reputation. God’s love and grace are free and all with an absolute guarantee of God’s mercy. But God must come first.

God has been trying to teach this to humankind for a very long time. In the desert, the Israelites were told to gather only enough manna to feed themselves and their families for one day. The miraculous food did not last overnight – even if there had been fancy warehouses such as the rich man planned to build. Generations later, the Son of God says: “give us this day our daily bread.” God gives us love. God wants our love in return.

Action

Look around you today. What is in your warehouse? If your life were demanded of you today? What then and so what? What is your real treasure? Do you use it to bring God to the world or store it away? Do you treat your real treasure as a treasure or ignore it in a landslide of tasks? Open the warehouse doors and consider: what is your plan of action to bring about change for the better in others and/or the world?

DeColores!

Beth DeCristofaro