“This night your life will be demanded of you.” These should be tough words for us to meditate upon because they call to mind our mortality. Elsewhere in scripture we are instructed, “you know not the time nor the hour.” Death is the only thing in this life which has been entitled to us, but we often forget about its possibility and thus we live as if we are immortal.
With this there is a great temptation to forget about Heaven and how our life should always be directed here. There is no greater joy then the joy which is the Kingdom of Heaven. Rather we fall into the trap of placing our attention upon frivolous amusements which can never bring us to the joy of Heaven. Everything falls short of Heaven and thus if it detracts us from our relationship with God it can never bring us true happiness.
If we desire happiness we will not find it in the pleasures of this world nor will we find it through an abundance of possessions. We will not find it in actions which are contrary to the Church and her teachings. We will only discover this happiness through God and through our pursuit of Him. This Gospel is not condemning those who have possessions, but it is a reminder to us that our possessions are not a means to an end.
Society has been schooled by popular culture and thus we know nothing about scripture or the teachings of the Church. How sad is it to see a child who doesn't even know how to use a bible because their parent has never instructed them on how to do so. How sad it is to see a child who has no clue how to make a confession because a parent has never assisted them in this area of life. The communion line has been lowered to a take and receive mentality, forgetting about what we truly receive which is Jesus Christ in the Flesh Who comes to dwell among under the appearances of bread and wine. There is no greater gift then this, but we often overlook these important elements in favor of popular culture.
Are we rich in what matters to God? Have we assisted others in becoming rich in what matters to God? Or have we stored up treasures for ourselves? These are important questions for us to ask because so often we avoid them in order to pursue the ways of the world and thus regulate God to a portion of our of life rather then allowing God to be our life’s priority.
From an address given by Pope Francis to the pilgrims at World Youth Day in Poland: “It is also hard, and troubling, to see young people who waste their lives looking for thrills or a feeling of being alive by taking dark paths, and in the end having to pay for it – and pay dearly. It is disturbing to see young people squandering some of the best years of their lives, wasting their energies running after peddlers of fond illusions … who rob you of what is best in you. So I ask you: Are you looking for empty thrills in life, or do you want to feel a power that can give you a lasting sense of life and fulfillment? Empty thrills or the power of grace?”
