Do you seek attention regularly? Maybe you are the type of person who always wants praise for your hard work, the effort you put in. Maybe you're the opposite, and hate getting praise from people, and just act out of kindness, doing your best for the sake of putting in the best effort you can. No matter which one of these you are, we all want to feel included. When we get too fixated on possessions, on buying more and more things, the attention isn't on us as people any more, but the amount and quality of belongings we have. This also leads to people believing they themselves have no value, because they cannot be like everyone else. God made each of us unique and valuable as people of Faith, knowing the number of hairs on our heads. We should be valued and praised based off of how we treat one another, how we are in our family and faith. Think about what you value most in your life, and if it's a Possession, it's time to do some serious consideration.
Today's Gospel states: 'One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my Soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God"' (Luke 12:13-21).
Today's reading talks about how anything we possess on this earth will mean nothing in heaven. It won't follow us there. Why then do we cherish possessions more than quality family time, or work to earn more money instead of attending mass? This passage speaks to each of us, saying that we need to put in the work and time where it matters most, and cling to earthly objects less. Think of the disciples, going off to proclaim the Good News. They had nothing but their faith and clothes on their backs. Maybe this means giving a donation of things to a charity? Take some time to ask God to help you find value in yourself and other people beyond earthly possessions.
Today we pray:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for finding value in me, for creating me to love and be loved in this life. I ask that You help me to cling to possessions less, so to take more time for people who matter more. Let me find value in everyone based on their faith and values, not their personal gains through finances.
I pray this in Your most holy name, Amen.
