Today at Holy Mass in the second reading from the Book of Peter we hear that our time here on earth is a pilgrimage….The words used by Peter to describe this pilgrimage were as follows: “Conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning”…..Do we think in this manner? - That we are not to build our Kingdom here on earth but our Kingdom is an eternal one in heaven and that we are simply “traveling” towards it……If we think in this manner, as all Catholics should, clearly our choices will reflect this mindset - Right?……How do we spend our money?…..Do we strive at all costs to gain social status?…..If God’s Kingdom is the place we want to arrive at - Because “getting into heaven” is not a guarantee! - How we conduct ourselves and the choices we make around the goals we establish for our life will tell the world everything it needs to know…..Money is a subject that makes Catholics uneasy…..God has given us all gifts and the distribution of gifts as we know is not equal for all people - Some have more then others…..But here is “the deal” - For those who have been given much - What does that statement imply? - Do we share?………..No one ever became poor by sharing…First clearly we must provide for our family - We must educate our children and care for their needs - All of this requires money - Speaking of children - Are we are Catholics open to having children as we have promised in making our wedding vows? - Do we use contraception?……And if we do - Why do we use contraception? - Is it to enjoy a lavish lifestyle spending our money on ourselves?…..And if we have been given material gifts - Do we live modestly?…Do we “show off” with ostentatious purchases? - A huge home - Expensive cars - Lavish clothing and jewelry…..Once again - No one expects anyone to live in a “box” on the street…But the choices we make with our money as Catholics tells the world what our priorities are…..It also tells the world that we are living according to the first two commandments or not living by them….Loving God above all things and loving our neighbor as ourself……Many people today profess with their words that they believe in Christ….I will tell you a good “test” to evaluate those words….Show me your checkbook - How do you spend your money?….That test will tell you - And God for that matter - Everything that needs to be said……”For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”……Our “Kingdom” is either an earthly one or a heavenly one….We as Catholics are to be in the world but not be of the world…Is this how we live?…Because we are not “fooling” anyone!…….“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal”…..We either believe this or we do not….And if we believe it - How we spend our money will tell the world exactly what we believe - No words necessary!
“Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us”
Many years ago my family was driving through a community near the ocean - Many of the homes were very big and beautiful and as we were driving along, my aunt said something that I thought was interesting….”Look at all these big homes - They must all have big families”…..What my aunt said was very logical and you would think it was the case…But as we all know, living in a big home does not necessarily mean one has a big family…In fact, many very small families live in gigantic homes...…Why would one do this? - Why would a person spend all their money on a huge home and only have one child or no children at all?……How can such a choice be reconciled with our Catholic faith?…..This is a concrete example we all can relate to when it comes to money and our Catholic faith….When we tell the world we believe in God - Trust me! - The world watches us very closely….How are spending our money speaks much louder then our words…..Catholic families that are open to life - That have many children - That live modestly - That share with others and the poor…These families are witnesses to the Gospel in ways mere words spoken can never be….To be Catholic means we live sacrificially - There is no way around this reality!!!….That does not mean we have to live in a “box” - But it does mean we live to meet our needs not necessarily all our wants - Is this what we see in the Catholic Communities and families we all know?……If we are serious about God - If we profess to be Catholic and believe in everything the Church teaches…Then everything I just noted will make perfect sense…If the reader of this reflection as a “problem” with my words - Maybe one should pause and reflect…..In the Lords Prayer, the only prayer Jesus taught us - These words are used…..”Thy Kingdom come - Thy will be done - On earth as it is in heaven”…..One would think if we place God’s Kingdom first, we would work on making our life on earth more like what we all want to experience in heaven - Right?!?….That means sharing with others - That means living modestly - That means placing people over material things and wants - And for married Catholics, that means being open to life…..Is this what is happening?….If it is not - Our words will all fall short - People believe not what we say as Catholics but by what they “see”.
"Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
Today we hear at Mass that how we “conduct” ourselves as we journey to heaven is very important - In fact, how we live and the choices we make as Catholics is all that really matters - If our words do not reflect our lifestyle…Not only will the world not believe in God but our faith will be professed in vain….When Catholics talk about money - People get uncomfortable - Trust me - “I get it”…..…Think about how “uncomfortable” we might be when we stand in front of God at our individual judgements? - Because what we did with our time, talents and treasure will be front and center!…………”For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous* will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”…..Pay close attention!!! - This is on the “final exam”………….”For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”…..JMJ
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