"Take care to guard against all greed"

First Reading - Ecc 1:2, 2:21-23
Second Reading - Col 3:1-11
Gospel Reading - Lk 12:13-21

Today's readings at Mass all dealt with greed and the fallacy in chasing after earthly possessions.
This is and always will be the largest stumbling block in people's attempt to follow Christ. We can't focus on Him and imitate Him, when we are too distracted contemplating whether we are maximizing our financial potential or where we stack up "possessions-wise" to our friends.

I remember struggling with this teaching when I was much younger. I had finally saved up enough weekly allowances to buy a Nintendo Entertainment System from Wal-mart for $103.66. Being an absolute video game nerd, this was my prized possession at the time. In the scripture reading that week, Jesus tells a rich young man that in order to enter into eternal life he must sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. This got me to thinking whether I could give away all my possessions. I convinced myself that I could survive without my radio, and would get by without my bike, but when I thought of giving up my new Nintendo, I balked. The thought was too tough, so I decided not to think on it anymore.

Even now I can look around at the excess of clothes, cds, dvds, books in my room, then honestly examine the mental list of things I still want, and see how I still struggle with the material versus spiritual. We all do.

Lord, help me to let go of all the things that keep me from fully devoting myself to You and following You!


Almost forgot...really cool God Wink...sitting behind me at Mass tonight was an old friend I hadn't seen since high school. He was back in town with his wife and 14 week old daughter. Funny how God works.