Wealthy in the eyes of God."

In the eyes of God, he is rich, rich in words,

because the truly rich have the word of God in their hearts.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Romans 4:20-25

He did not doubt,

Nor did he distrust the promise of God, and, by being strong in faith, he gave glory to God:

he was convinced, that, He who had given the promise, had power to fulfill it.

 

This was taken into account, for him to attain righteousness. This was taken into account:

these words of Scripture are not only for him, but for us, too, because we believe in him, who raised Jesus,

our Lord, from among the dead, he, who was delivered for our sins, and raised to life, for us to receive true righteousness.

 

Ps Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 12:13-21

S omeone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, "Master, tell my brother to share with me the family inheritance."

He replied, "My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your attorney?"

Then Jesus said to the people, "Be on your guard and avoid every kind of greed,

for even though you have many possessions, it is not that which gives you life."

 

And Jesus continued, "There was a rich man, and his land had produced a good harvest.

He thought, 'What shall I do, for I am short of room to store my harvest? Alright,

I know what I shall do: I will pull down my barns and I will build bigger ones, to store all this grain, which is my wealth.

 

Then I will say to myself: My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years.

Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself. But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you.

Tell me, who shall get all you have put aside?' This is the lot of the one who stores up riches for himself and is not wealthy in the eyes of God."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Wealthy in the eyes of God."

 There are two perspectives on life presented by our readings and by our feast today.

Jesus' parable presents someone who considers his safety to be in his possessions and wealth.

He has many barns filled with grain, and so he thinks he is safe from famine or danger. Yet, his wealth cannot hold back his death.

In this sense, his over-confident complacency is foolish, as he has forgotten to make himself "wealthy in the eyes of God."

His earthly, materialistic mindset would consider loving sacrifice as foolishness, but in reality, this is true wealth.

 

Thus, Saint Paul says that those with this mindset will consider the "language of the cross" to be "nonsense," but, in fact, it is true wisdom (1 Cor 1:18).

Therefore, we are to follow Christ's way of self-giving love, that is, the way of the cross, if we are to reach true happiness.

Saint Paul of the Cross, the founder of the Passionists, focused his preaching on Christ's passion

and cross to highlight both God's infinite love and to show how we are to reach the glory of heaven.

Thus, he preached, "The Cross is the way to Paradise, but only when it is borne willingly."