“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

luke 12:15

Luke 12:13-21

Reflection

Jesus tells the crowd to guard themselves against all greed. To reinforce this idea, he tells them a parable about a rich man who has too much grain and wants to build bigger barns; then he will enjoy the rest of his life. But God tells the rich man that he will die that night. Jesus instructs the crowd that they should store up treasure for themselves in heaven.

What do we store up for ourselves on earth? Is it money, friends, followers, material goods? All these things will be gone when we die. We cannot take any of that to heaven. Jesus warns us to not be greedy – we must be rich in what matters to God.

We must work on storing up the things that matter – virtue, holiness, love, and our relationship with the Lord. Reflect on what you can start to get rid of in your life that hinders you from focusing on heavenly things. Ask the Lord to help you store up all that matters to him.

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Saint of the Day

St. Paul of the Cross: 1694 – 1775

“How wonderful are the treasures which are enclosed in the divine Eucharist! I exhort you, even though you live in the world, to receive Communion often, but with piety. Holy Communion is the most efficacious means of uniting one’s self to God. Always prepare yourself well for this sacred banquet. Have a very pure heart, and watch over your tongue, for it is on the tongue that the Sacred Host is laid.” St. Paul of the Cross