Rich in What Matters to God

July 31, 2016

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Then (Jesus) said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Luke 12:15

I have a smart-phone. When I bought it, I felt it was necessary for me to have one. But I still ask myself from time to time, is it necessary? Or did I just want it?

I don’t think there is anything wrong with possessions themselves. It is our attachment that becomes the problem.

So I have done a lot of praying and pondering about this. And I had not come up with an answer that eased my mind very much. Until the day I showed one of my sons the apps I have on the phone.

Other than the useful ones like email, phone, calendar and a things-to-do list, most of them were Catholic apps. There is the bible, the rosary, other prayers, the Divine Office, the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, etc. Podcasts are almost all prayer related. And I have ebooks on it, most of them Catholic prayer and spirituality related.

So this fancy phone has certainly made my life easier. And it has helped me with my prayer life, too, believe it or not. I actually have an alarm that reminds me throughout the day to take a moment and just BE with God.

Am I attached? I don’t really think so, but I continually ask myself that question in order to guard my heart about this and other possessions.

And I pray.

I pray that my heart is in the right place.

I pray that I am “rich in what matters to God.” (Luke 12:21)

Dear Lord, help me to remember to always put you first. Help me to be rich only in what matters to you. May I always know when to let go. May I always guard my heart. Amen.

Tagged as: Jesus, Sunday Gospels