GOSPEL REFLECTION OF POPE FRANCIS - 10/23/23 (Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time)

From the Gospel according to Luke

Lk 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,

"Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me."

He replied to him,

"Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?"

Then he 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, 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 will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself

but is not rich in what matters to God."

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER: 

At that He [Jesus] said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." At that time, the suffering of Jesus was near. His answer in the Gospel about the tax seemed to be a reminder that He would also redeem us from our sins. In His redemption for us, money is not the payment but His Holy Body and Blood. God paid for our sin even though He was not the One who sinned. Shouldn't we also do what's just? Paying taxes is one example. But, it can also do a lot of things.  Let's do our duty at home, government, and Church. Today is Sunday. It is our holy day of obligation to go to church. Are we giving what is due to God? Do we grant His request at least one hour every Sunday? Fulfillment of duty and faithfulness can be measured when we give what is due to God and to man. In doing business, are we honest and not cheating? In school as a student, do we do our best and not use others to do what we should? We can follow the message of the Gospel today in many ways and aspects of our lives. God is faithful. As His children, it is our duty to follow and imitate Him. Amen.  +

Source:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/word-of-the-day.html

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. +  

Saint John of Capistrano, Priest—Optional Memorial:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/october-23---st-john-of-capistrano

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

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

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