Aug 04 – Homily – Fr Elias: Seeking Heavenly Treasure
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Homily #130804b (
14min) Play - Fr. Elias preaches on the gospel of today that admonishes us to not place too much importance on earthly treasure. Father relates this to an over emphasis on one's self, a self-centeredness on our own needs that makes us unconcerned for other people and unconcerned about God. We need to look at God as one who deserves worship for his own sake and this is a fundamental duty first and foremost and then when this prerequisite is fulfilled, religion will be something that fulfills us and it will do so in a much more profound and reliable manner than even billions of dollars of material wealth can ever do.Ave Maria!
Mass: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday - Form: OF
Readings:
1st: ecc 1:2; 2:21-23
Resp: psa 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
2nd: col 3:1-5, 9-11
Gsp: luk 12:13-21
Audio (MP3)+++
Our Catholic schools, parishes, and even the “catholic” home-schoolers in the region, live for the love of money, and put their trust in the “security” that money and material possessions seem to afford them. They go to mass, most of them, regularly on Sundays, but it is to keep up appearances, to stamp themselves with what they claim is God’s blessing and “happiness”. But take away a little of their worldly security and pride of place in their small little empires, and they begin to show their true allegiance to the spirit of the world.
According to these people, God approves of their putting themselves above the poor, condescending to the sick, and their self-righteous judgment of the “unsuccessful” in this world.
Happiness for these smug judges is all about worldly pleasures. It’s a catholic version of the health and wealth prosperity gospel. It’s a type of heresy, truly, and driven by the culture of death, divorce, materialism, and pride, all the while maintaining a superficial relationship to the church.
It’s truly diabolical and that spirit has deeply infected the church, no doubt as a by-product of our infidelity to God and the Holy Cross of Christ, and our love and desire instead, truly centered on the security we think we will find and possess through worldly wealth and material possessions. Success. Happiness. And stamp yourself with the seal of God’s approval by being in the church.
Yesterday I read a sermon given by St. Basil the Great in the 4th century. It is known as St. Basil’s Sermon to the Rich. One can easily foresee with horror the qualifying and modern day spin our happy Catholics today would dream up in attempt to render St. Basil’s sharp-edged sword as dull as a butter knife. And then let the whole issue just fade away as they continue to build their lives around the false security of what they have, pride of place and the pleasures of this world. These are the ones who, as St. James wrote, dishonor the poor. Stunned by the love of money, pleasures, and worldly honors.
Thank you, Ross. Yes, we certainly must examine our conscience in these matters, but we must also not judge others but focus on our own sins and faults and try to avoid labeling others as ‘diablical’ and such when we can all improve in this regard.