Homily for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel may seem to be speaking against wealth, but it can be debated that God does not have an issue with our being successful. Recall the prayer of the ancient Psalmist asking that God would "prosper the work of our hands."

We know from the words of Jesus that we should use our wealth, gifts, and the prosperous work of our hands and do something with them for others' good.

We live in a culture where people are teeming with possessions, schedules, and pointless busyness; many are enthralled with pursuing more and building larger "barns" to store more. To be people of faith and genuine disciples of Jesus begins with emptying ourselves of our stuff and busyness to create a place and a time for God to dwell and fill. The most tragic poverty is the emptiness of a life filled with things but possessing nothing of God.

Christ calls us to "think of what is above" — love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and gratitude. God has given us this invaluable, wonderful life to embrace and be embraced by His selfless and affirming love, to discover how to love one another as God loves us.