Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Luke 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."

Reflection

It is clear in this passage that Jesus is warning people against their addiction to possessions. And what I love about it is the question at the end, because it says, what is it really that makes you rich

In the eyes of God? It's relationships. How God has been able to use you to bring people into a greater awareness of who He is. That's the treasure that we should be working toward. And it has a bountiful reward not only in the next life, but in this life also. 

Closing Prayer

Father, help us to see the world as you have taught us to look at it. It's a place where we build and grow as a community of believers and lovers and forgivers, bless us with our focus being on that great gift. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.