Dear Parish Family,
In this Sunday’s readings we are challenged to use the gifts God has given us for the common good, to work for our salvation, and for the greater glory of God.
“Having had hearing problems for a number of years, an elderly man went to the doctor, who had him fitted for hearing aids that allowed him to hear better than ever. The old man returned to the doctor one month later for an evaluation of his new hearing aids, and the doctor said, ‘Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.’ The man replied, ‘Oh, I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I’ve changed my will three times!” (Original source unknown)
Thomas Aquinas says: “Temporal goods are subject to man, that he may use them according to his needs, not that he should make them his main purpose, or be overly anxious about them.” The more we place our hopes on things of this world, the more we lose sight of heaven. This is because: “Where a man’s wealth is, there is his soul.”
The words of the Gospel today are not meant to discourage or distress us. Instead, they are a wake-up call to put things in perspective and set priorities straight.
Jesus’ message is that true happiness does not come from getting, it comes from giving.
God Bless,
Fr. Cyrus
