CENTERED ON GOD, NOT ON RICHES - 10/17/22 (Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr)

Luke 12:20-21

“‘You fool, 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.”  

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101722.cfm

Blessed Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch! The Lord made us. We belong to Him. True happiness in life is seen when we offer our life to the glory of God. Nothing in this world can match the happiness when we persevere in loving Christ. And yet, we cannot deny the numerous temptations in this world that may make us worldly. In the parable, Jesus spoke of a wealthy man who was not thinking of God but only in his riches. He was imagining that his life would consist simply of being rich and having pleasures. However, this man was unaware that he would meet the Lord soon, and the worldly treasures that he stored were not permanent. 

The true standard for richness is whether we are spiritually rich or not. A person who may have many resources and wealth but always act contrary to God's will is not rich in the eyes of God. Why is it that some of us have fallen to this temptation despite the fact that they do not give authentic happiness? One reason is when we become attached to satisfactions due to worldly things. Temptations from the devil always involve satisfactions. We may be blinded in such a way that we are only focused on the benefits that the sin offers while unaware that this is not good for our souls. The more we become attached to our sins, the more we desire those wrong satisfactions. This may happen to us in such a way that the attachment to wealth and to recognition from others is so deep that some may no longer see the presence of God in their lives. Moreover, being attached to worldly things will lead us to more sins.

In the gospel reading for today, one man desired to speak to Jesus and persuade Him to tell his brother about his inheritance. What this person did not realize was that he was motivated by greed. And, this greed led him to be angry with his brother. When we become attached to the sin of greed, we may also be angry with our friends and families because of financial issues. Despite the fact that God calls us to love one another, some may find it difficult to follow God, and they will rather justify their actions. Greed will not just affect our relationship with other people but also with our God. When our life is more centered on the riches, we become farther and farther from our Lord in terms of our relationship with Him. Because of this, many people endanger their souls because they are no rejecting the teachings of Christ and the Church, and they do not have the desire to receive God's mercy and graces in the sacraments. 

Despite our weaknesses as human beings, we should not lose hope because Jesus Christ is our Merciful Savior. The reason why He reveals to us through His Word the danger of sins and the importance of being centered on God is because He loves us. He wants what is best for us, and that is to be united with God and be detached from all things that hinder our relationship with Him. This does not mean that we will all suddenly give up all of our possessions. Rather, we will use them for God's glory, and we should accept the invitation of our Lord to give our whole selves to Him. When we are tempted to neglect God and to prioritize worldly things, let's immediately turn to Jesus in our prayer and ask for His strength to reject such temptations. May we come to Jesus who is present in the Blessed Sacrament, either by going to Church and praying in front of Tabernacle or inside the Adoration Chapel, or  by looking for Online Adoration on YouTube. Our life should consist of one thing, and that is to love God. When we struggle to follow God, may we reflect on the sufferings of Christ and the saints, like St. Ignatius of Antioch who was martyred due to his Catholic faith. St. Ignatius of Antioch, together with other saints, are now in heaven possessing the treasure of eternal life. Blessed are the followers of Christ because they will obtain true richness in heaven. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Life of St. Ignatius of Antioch:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/october-17---st-ignatius-bishop-martyr/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/