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Gospel Reading for August 3, 2025 – Luke 12: 13-21
RIGHT ATTITUDES
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 all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”
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“‘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 all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”
What matters to God is how we develop and use the gifts he gave us and how we share with others the fruits of the gifts he gave us. We have been enriched with his gifts and he expects us to enrich others with these gifts.
How very important it is to have the RIGHT ATTITUDES with regards money. Take for example those of us who are regular workers. Are we just waiting for the 15th and end of each month to feel fulfilled? Are these the only dates that give us joy? Or, are we among those who feel fulfilled when we are able to do our work well and thereby excel in the use of our gifts/capabilities, such that the 15th and end of each month are just dates to sustain our lives or that of our families? When work is our focus, and salary is just remuneration, then we get to become very good in what we do. But when salary is our focus, chances are, we will not be able to do our work well and will not be able to develop our gifts/capabilities.
Having the RIGHT ATTITUDES in life will bring us true happiness. Doing things that matter to God will surely enrich us because they are all that really matter in life. If material wealth is most important in life, perhaps Jesus would have been born to a rich family.
Lord Jesus, teach us not to be greedy and instead share what we have with those in need around us!
