PO Box 83, Quinque, VA 22965 (Mailing Address) | 6562 Amicus Rd, Ruckersville, VA 22968, US
Weekly bulletins, schedules and helpful Information
Father Michael's Thoughts this week
WEEKLY THOUGHTS 26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 24th 2022.
Dear Friends, welcome to the Eucharistic celebration of this Sunday.
Last Sunday in the Gospel, we heard Jesus teaching his disciples on the true use of wealth; that your wealth is not your own to do as you please- It belongs to God and I am merely appointed to take care of it for him. So I will be held accountable by God for what I do for it.
This is the reason why Jesus says; ” You cannot serve both God and money- You cannot serve two masters- honesty and dishonesty- It is simply a contradiction. If I serve God, I must give my best time, talent, treasure and love. Serving money or possessions can make one greedy, unscrupulous and blind.
In the gospel Reading of this Sunday; Luke 16: 19-1, we hear Jesus telling us the fate of the wealth man towards the poor Lazarus. Nowhere does Christ condemn the mere possession of earthly goods, but pronounces harshly those who use their possessions selfishly- without paying attention to the needs of others.
Jesus had taught many times on the blessedness of the poor and the poor in spirit because these people placed their hope in God not in the things of this world.
Lazarus was stripped of material goods. He had to beg for the basic needs for survival. He had to accept the sympathy shown him by the dogs- licked his sores. Lazarus accepted the ordeal of his lifetime- being poor in possessions and in spirit. This made it easy for Lazarus to purchase the pearl of the kingdom now enjoying the eternal joy with Abraham.
We too at times may resemble the rich man God blessed with riches yet failed to act as a good and generous steward. His basic problem was his blindness to see Lazarus who stood daily at his gate. He only needed to share from his gifts with Lazarus as a good steward. Let us endeavor to be good and faithful stewards as a condition to merit eternal life.
Have a great week.
