Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues,
Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
(Ephesians 2:1-10; Luke 12:13-21)
Both the first reading and the gospel today challenge
hearers not to horde. Ephesians reminds
Christians that the good that they do comes from Christ’s grace. They cannot claim it as their own doing and store
it as credit against their failures.
Rather, they must turn to Christ in thanks and petition him for
salvation.
The gospel parable addresses the question of hording
material goods as one’s salvation. Of
course, it is a fool’s enterprise as happiness consists of much more than
having savings. Yet investing in one’s future
is prudent when accompanied by contributing to the poor’s welfare today.
St. Teresa of Avila has been credited with saying that when
she encountered the Lord in judgment, she would not mention any of her accomplishments. Rather, she said, she would throw herself at
his feet and beg for mercy. Here is a
safe strategy. We are to carry out the Lord’s will every day so that he might
recognize us as faithful servants on the day of judgment.
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