My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Gospel gives us a stark warning with the parable of the rich fool who planned for many ye...
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Gospel gives us a stark warning with the parable of the rich fool who planned for many years of comfort but failed to account for a single night. This man was rich in possessions but tragically poor in his relationship with God.
The life of St. Paul of the Cross, whose optional memorial we observe, offers a beautiful counterpoint. As the founder of the Passionists, his life was one of deep Piety, marked by profound devotion to the suffering and cross of Jesus. He didn't build bigger barns; he built a life focused on eternal values. He reminds us that true wealth lies not in what we hoard, but in what we share and how we live for God.
St. Paul of the Cross lived a life of rigorous self-discipline, showing incredible Patience in trials and a steadfast conviction that the Passion of Christ is the greatest sign of God's love. This is the same spirit of faith we hear about in the first reading, where Abraham's belief in God's promise—even a promise that seemed impossible—was counted as righteousness.
The rich man lost everything because he lost Perspective. His soul was demanded of him, and his possessions became meaningless. We must ask ourselves: Are our barns and bank accounts our primary concern? Or do we, like St. Paul of the Cross, anchor our lives in Christ's Passion and resurrection, living with the Perspective that eternal life is our true treasure? Let us choose to be rich in God's sight today. Amen.
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