Monday of Week 29 Year 2

How much is enough for you? Would you ever be satisfied or content with what you have? Or would you continue to seek more and more? Some people are never fully satisfied with what they have. They cannot stand it when others have got the latest gadget or gizmo, or the latest set of wheels, or the latest home design, or the latest fashion or clothing. Even after getting all these things, some people still want bigger, faster, trendier, or better. It is a vicious circle, because what was relevant or the in-thing yesterday or today, could be obsolete or irrelevant tomorrow. Some people even begin to hoard things, because they are unable to let go or give away, even though many things they have are hardly used or not used at all. In the end, what happens? Our lives become cluttered and suffocated with temporal matter, but what happens to our efforts for the eternal matter?

In today's Gospel, Jesus cautions us: "Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs." When we are so occupied with things here on earth, we may become complacent and ignore things that really matter. We begin to neglect the state of our soul. We think we still have plenty of time on earth to ensure our soul is kept spick and span, but Jesus warns us in the Gospel: "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?." Are we guilty in one way or another, as Jesus says: "So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God." Are we going to continue to not bother, carry on doing things in our own merry way and procrastinate until it is too late?

So does this mean we should become paranoid or obsessive compulsive in our efforts in our spiritual growth? No. What this means is we need to be diligent, consistent and committed in growing in relationship with God. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it takes time to nurture our spiritual life, but we should not have a false sense of security, thinking that we can slack or neglect in our efforts. Let us humbly, cheerfully and faithfully do our part, for our eternal betterment.