+ We have brief but powerful readings today at mass. The
first reading finds St. Paul telling Timothy, one of the first second
generation bishops of the Church that the worldly rich risk missing out on a
truly authentic and genuine Christian life, if they so choose to avail
themselves of gospel preaching and teaching. The two values: the world, and
Christ’s teachings, are worlds apart and not compatible with one another.
Basically, Paul is saying that
if you have food and clothing – and albeit a modest and comfortable place to
live – you have it all. Any money made that provides luxuries over and above
that fall into the temptation category where purchased and acquired items may
choke off the spirit of poverty and poorness that Jesus says is essential for
the soul to be unfettered enough to seek God and be satiated by him.
The love of money is indeed
the root of all evils. The love of God and his ways is the root of all
happiness and peace – both here and eternally.
So we my aim to be saintly and
religious (having rightly set priorities) asking to be filled with faith and
love, gentleness and patience. This is the good fight of faith that ought to
occupy our daily living.
The gospel passage finds Jesus
going about from town to town telling about exactly this topic: a saintly,
religious life – that he himself is modeling and empowering people to live by –
is the way to go. And he is gathering followers, both men and women, young and
old, no doubt. And they shall not be disappointed – nor shall we be if we
follow and are filled with the life of Jesus – as he offers it to us daily by
Word and Sacrament – and by empowering us to help others from the bottom of our
hearts!
Happy the poor in spirit, the kingdom of
heaven really is theirs!
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