Monday, October 22, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102218.cfm

Today, in Mercy, our readings are all about riches. How appropriate that seems in a week where the whole country is absorbed in a $1.6 billion dollar lottery dream!

How many news bits this week showed interviews with John and Jane Q. Public, informing us of how they might use such winnings. Of course, all reports indicated an amazingly altruistic response to a winning ticket. It seems everyone will help his unfortunate brother-in-law, and buy his mail carrier new shoes. Hmm? I wonder?

Not so with Gospel Farmer today. He hits the jackpot in the fields and, as many of us might, decides to keep every last grain for himself. Oops! On the night of that decision, he dies, leaving the grain behind along with his selfish legacy.

Jesus tells us:

Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.

Paul tells us what it does consist of:

God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us,
… brought us to life with Christ,
raised us up with him …

We are to live among one another as mirrors of this Divine kindness and richness — not holding on to every last – very transitory- grain of our “possessions”.

Friends, every one of us, through our Baptism, already holds the winning ticket to the only treasure that lasts – eternal life. May our lives reflect that immense grace in deeds of love and mercy.

Music: Earthen Vessels – St. Louis Jesuits