Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
Intention: For all who are called to roles of leadership and advocacy in society, that their hearts and minds will be open to God’s wisdom and guidance.
Today’s 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.”
From the Meditation on Saint Peter of Alcantara | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Poverty ought to be so dear to you that you practice it in all things, with the result that as you hold on to nothing but God, you find in God what cannot be found in creatures. In this way you will be able to receive from God the fullness of grace, both for you and for others, especially the love of the poor and the zeal you need to bring them completely to God.
Prayer
Eternal Father, each day we work hard to build our lives. Sometimes, our possessions and our achievements begin to look to us like the meaning of our lives. They are not. In your plan, there are the things that are part of life and there are the things that give us life. Help us to know the difference. We give thanks for the real riches of truth and freedom, of peace, joy, and inspiration. Heal our blindness and open our hearts. Inspire us to do the work of reaching out to those in need and allowing your word to come alive in their lives. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.