Monday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 17 The Number of Psalms to be Sung at These Hours
Mass: Rm 4:20-25; Resp Ps (Lk 1)); Lk 12:13-21

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Today's Gospel tells the story of a rich man who was busy accumulating wealth and storing it up for himself. It's the pronouns himself and myself that stood out for me. First, the man asks himself what he should do with his abundant harvest. He decides to build larger barns for storage, then, as he says, "I shall store all my grain and other goods and say to myself, 'Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, and be merry!'" Just say no to a party for one!

Living and true God, help all of us to be "freed from excessive self-preoccupation," so "we realize that in the end, love is the bountiful harvest we most deeply want to preserve and share" (Kevin O'Brien, SJ).

During this missionary month, the Lord is calling you: He is asking you to be a gift wherever you are, just as you are, with everyone around you. Courage! The Lord expects great things from you.
(Pope Francis, Twitter, October 21, 2019)

© Gertrude Feick 2019