Today's readings warn
us how the excessive attachment to riches can lead us away from the Gospel
message. Ezekiel calls out the city of
Tyre as an example of a community that puts its trust in its wealth rather than
in God. Ezekiel reminds us how something
other than God can become an idol for us, how it can rule our lives. Ezekiel prophesied that utter destruction
would come to those who allow money to rule their lives.
In our Gospel today,
we hear Jesus speak about this same theme, how riches can be an obstacle to
attaining eternal life. For me, in my
life of faith, participating in charitable works of mercy as fruits out of my
journey of faith has really helped me realize what is most important in
life. Whether we volunteer at Manna
House soup kitchen, whether we help build a house for Habit for Humanity,
whether we visit the sick or the shut-ins of our parish or the prisoners behind
bars, works of mercy will help us experience God in a very real way in our
lives, they will be a way we live out the values of the Gospel in our
lives.
May we all examine
ourselves in our life of prayer to see who is really the God we worship in the
reality of our lives. Do we place our
trust in God the Father, or do our worldly goods or other treasures rule our
lives? It gives us a lot to think
about.
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