Daily Catholic Reflection: October 19, 2020, Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs, Year A

Ephesians 2:1-10,

Psalm 99(100),

Like 12:13-22 Full Readings

Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and Companions

 The Greatest Treasure to Store

As human beings, planning for the future is part of us and in fact one who does not think about the future is half human. In this way, many people invest in many things and store many treasures for themselves to use them in the future or to be used by their children and the following generations. It's tempting to say that most of these investments and preparations for the future are mostly in material things.   Jesus in the gospel challenges this, not only to store material things but above all to store ourselves treasure in heaven.

Today we reflect on the parable of the rich fool who after seeing much harvest decided to build barns and keep everything there, and said to his soul to eat, drink and enjoy for everything is at his disposal. Unfortunately, God demanded his soul that night and he had nothing after death, no eternal life. This passage is yet another warning about the inadequacy of riches in helping us inherit the kingdom of God. It is only this passage which calls the rich as a fool to emphasize this aspect more.

Brethren, which and where have you kept the treasure for yourself? Jesus tells us that we have to keep  treasures for ourselves in heaven thus making ourselves rich in God's face rather than here on earth. All earthly things and riches, if they don't help us gain eternal life, are nothing. We are struggling for nothing and we better start investing in heavenly riches.

Most times we think if we have money then we have everything and we can do everything we want but unfortunately this is only human thinking. We all have experiences of people who have money and have lost their lives, have lost their love, even with broken families and above all feeling lonely because of pride. It is possible that some can gain all the things they set their heart on, only to wake up suddenly and discover that they missed the most important things of all. Of what value are material things if they don't help you gain what truly lasts in eternity. Neither money nor possessions can buy heaven, mend a broken heart, or cheer a lonely person.

Jesus himself asks us a fundamental question; What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” In other words, Jesus is saying that it doesn’t matter how much money you make, or what kind of car you drive, or what kind of clothes you wear, or what type of degree you have. You might spend your whole life trying to earn millions of dollars and amass all sorts of luxuries and securities, but you will have done all this in vain without God. You will have missed out on the true meaning of life and the real treasure of love. Don’t make the mistake of continually trying to make life easier and more comfortable for yourself. You will only end up being hopelessly miserable and incredibly lonely.

Everything we have is an out-right gift from God. We owe him everything, including our very lives. It's possible to give God our money, but not ourselves, or to give him lip-service, but not our hearts. This is not good at all for us as His disciples. A true disciple gladly gives up all that he or she has in exchange for an unending life of joy and happiness with God. God gives without measure. The joy he offers no sadness or loss can diminish. This is what is expected of us.

Now if our greatest investment is not in all these worldly things, where is it? It is in Jesus, in following him by taking up our crosses, deny ourselves and follow Him. Jesus is not saying we should be poor or lose everything, remember even when you lose everything and even invite suffering to yourself, you will gain nothing if it is not for the sake of Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us to carry our crosses and follow Him. His cross is an easy one, that is, in this contemporary time is to follow His commandments and live all the Christian values. These commandments are summarised in one which is love. And so what Jesus implies is that in order to save our lives, we should give up our lives to love Him and our neighbours. With this we shall gain eternal life. 

Brethren, life is not all about possessions. We can all sometimes fall prey to the desire to measure our self-worth by our possessions. In the culture, we often idolize those with great wealth. Wealthy people seem to have it all. But Christ warns us in the Gospel to reject this assumption. Life does not consist of possessions. What matters is how well we love. As Mother Teresa told us, “There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love” (A Simple Path). Our ultimate success will be measured by the love we share with others. “If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3).

Therefore, if you have plenty to share with the other as a sign of love, give back to God also though nothing can pay for the life you have. St Paul tells us in the first reading that God through his grace saved us not of our own making nor any works. Grace here means not a substance poured into our souls to provide some sort of salvific energy, but is the unmerited favour and choice by God. It is a personal relationship rather than a material, rather even than a spiritual gift. God has smiled on each of us and invited us into his friendship. In the light of this gift of friendship we are strengthened and encouraged to serve him, so that this gift of his friendship becomes an ever stronger and more important element in our lives. God shows us his love and we respond. So he shows us even greater love. But the greatest gift of all is his Son and the salvation, the new life won for us by Christ. 

This was the initiative of God but in responding to this grace we need to serve him and his people through what we say and do. For us, Faith alone is not sufficient to be saved, we need to move an extra mile. Even Satan and his devils believe — and shudder (cf. James 2:19). Let us reflect on the words of Saint James for further insight: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (James 2:14-17).

Our greatest investment then becomes to give up our lives to love God and serve His people. It's not by gathering the whole world for ourselves, or making a lot of money or hating our fellows but just in a simple way, to pick up our crosses and follow Jesus and surrender everything to Him, to love and to accept love. 

Reflect today on where you have put your greatest investment, that which will give you happiness both here on earth and eternal life in the next life. Can you give up everything for the sake of Christ, to love Him and serve His people? Pray the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind as you reflect on these questions.

Let us pray

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and all my will, all that I have and possess. You have given them to me; to you, O Lord, I restore them; all things are yours, dispose of them according to your will. Give me your love and your grace, for this is enough for me. Amen  (Prayer of Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556) "

Be blessed