Colossians 3:1
"If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above."
Readings for Sunday: Ecclesiastes, Colossians, Luke
Reflection:
Today’s readings remind us to strive to be rich in what truly matters: the things that matter to God. Money, possessions and status can easily consume our lives, but they do not satisfy the deepest hunger of the human heart. As St. Teresa of Calcutta once said, many suffer from a deep spiritual poverty: “You… have millions of people who suffer such terrible loneliness and emptiness… What they are missing, really, is a living relationship with God.”
Jesus addresses this reality in today’s Gospel from Luke. A man asks Him to settle an inheritance dispute, and Jesus refuses, warning instead about greed. He tells a parable of a rich man who stores up earthly wealth but neglects his soul. When the man dies, all his riches are meaningless. Jesus concludes, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”
So what are real riches? We might include love of God, love of neighbor, and holiness. These riches grow from a life rooted in prayer, the sacraments, and service. As St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, if we’re not living in and for Jesus, we will never be truly rich.
Although God calls each of us to holiness, not everyone’s call is the same. People like Pier Giorgio Frassati showed us how to live richly in Christ. He was not a priest or missionary, but a student who lived a simple life of service and prayer. Like St. Thérèse of Lisieux observed, holiness is found in little things done with great love.
To grow in real riches, you might ask yourself: do I love my spouse, my children, my neighbor as Christ does? Do I seek God daily in prayer and the sacraments?
Because in the end, the only riches that matter are the ones that lead us to heaven.
Reflection Questions
- What areas of my life show that I am seeking earthly riches over the riches that matter to God?
- How am I actively growing in love for God and my neighbor?
- Do I believe that holiness and a deep relationship with Jesus are the real purpose and fulfillment of my life?