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Catholic Church / Pacoima, CA

Live the Values of Heaven

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

We Christians are called to seek the values of heaven more than any value of this passing world. Seek first the Kingdom of God,… Mt 6:33. We are citizens of Heaven. We are in the world, but we are not of the world.
If you have risen with Christ, seek the values of above, not those of the earth… For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

We are resurrected with Christ from Baptism; for this reason we can no longer send ourselves alone, we belong to Him. Romans 14:8ss:

“For if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Because Christ died and rose again for this, and came back to life, to be Lord of the dead as well as of those who live… Because we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”

We do not own anything, not even ourselves; we belong to God. We must be good stewards of the talents that God has given each of us to multiply them, putting them at the service of others. Only in this way can we enter in the joy of the Lord (cf. Matthew 25:14ff.).

It is not about accumulating values of this earthly world, neither materials, nor titles, honors or riches or pleasures, recognitions, applause,… that is not what gives meaning, fulfillment and happiness to life, this is nothing compared to what that God wants for us, life in abundance, full and eternal. And this is received trusting in Him, with true faith, doing his will, paying attention to him; only this makes us intimate with him, as father, mother, brother, friend. Only this is true value, which gives us the great prize of eternal life, without which what would be the use of winning the whole world if we lose our life? This is, then, the only necessary thing that he mentions to Martha and Mary, which it is worth leaving anything else important as it may be.

All earthly value is temporary and fleeting and is nothing compared to what God wants to give us in his eternal Kingdom, for which we should strive much more than for everything in this world. Luke 12,19ff.

“Then I will speak with myself: My soul, you have many things stored here for many years; rest, eat, drink, have a good time." But God told him: “You fool! This very night they claim your soul. Who will keep what you have prepared?” This applies to every person who accumulates for himself, instead of accumulating in what is valuable before God.”

MAKE US WISE LORD TO RECEIVE YOUR GIFTS.

Readings for the Week

Monday: Jer 28:1-17; Ps 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102; Mt 14:13-21
Tuesday: Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Ps 102:16-21, 29, 22-23; Mt 14:22-36 or Mt 15:1-2, 10-14
Wednesday: Jer 31:1-7; Jer 31:10, 11-12ab, 13; Mt 15:21-28
Thursday: Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; Mt 16:13-23
Friday: Na 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7; Dt 32:35cd-36ab, 39abcd, 41; Mt 16:24-28
Saturday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9; 2 Pt 1:16-19; Lk 9:28b-36
Sunday: Wis 18:6-9; Ps 33:1, 12, 18-22; Hb 11:1-2, 8-19 [1-2, 8-12]; Lk 12:32-48 [35-40]

Saints & Special Observances

Sunday: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: St. Alphonsus Liguori
Tuesday: St. Eusebius of Vercelli; St. Peter Julian Eymard
Thursday: St. John Vianney
Friday: Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major; First Friday
Saturday: The Transfiguration of the Lord; First Saturday

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