Gospel for August 3 2025 – Luke 12:13-21
Gospel Reflections for August 3 2025
The power to do something good…
The scriptures often warn us about these famous temptations. They are wealth, power, honor, and pleasure. Well …I hope you receive all of them!
These temptations are neither good nor bad of themselves. They become good or bad depending on how you use them. Each of them provide the possibility of doing something good for the world …or using them for selfish ends.
I wish for you the blessings of wealth. With money you can provide for loved ones and yourself. You can also make good things happen elsewhere too, like help Catholic Charities care for the poor, or help build our new Hall for All, or help maintain our facilities.
I wish for you the blessings of power. How wonderful if you are in charge of others. Having authority is an awesome opportunity to make good things happen, in a company, in government, in a school, or especially as a parent in a family.
I wish for you the blessings of honor. Having the esteem of others can inspire people to follow your example and do what you do. Pray that your example every day resembles the life of Our Lord, or any of the saints.
Finally, I wish for you the blessings of pleasure! I hope that you will find joy in the life God has given you. I hope you can see beauty in nature and enjoy moments of recreation, in the original sense of that term, to re-create yourself anew both apart from your work, and even in your work.
For all these good reasons I hope you receive wealth, power, honor, and pleasure!
I am sure you will use them well. The Gospel simply warns us to not see them as ends themselves …accruing wealth just to gain wealth or seeking honor just to gain a name. Whatever you have …you will want to use for some good end to help build the Kingdom of God.
You have a reminder in the words of the consecration at Mass when Jesus says, “This is my Body and Blood, given for you.” Jesus takes His body and blood, His entire self, everything that He is, and offers it to the Father for your lasting happiness.
He knows just what to do with what He has …and invites you to do the same.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thanks again Father……..even more great thoughts ! Please keep them coming.
More thoughts on the way!
Beautifully said our precious Father Dave!!Whatever we have attained i life, we must be a Giver of Jesus’ Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Loveeeeeeeee it and loveeeeeeeeeee you for your precious words and leading us beautifully to Heaven!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
; Too many families are destroyed fighting over will readings and their share of estates left.
We get too attracted to STUFF. NONE of it will be taken with us when we die.. our Catholic Faith tells us this but we fail to take it to heart.
Our Relationship with Jesus is something we do take and can improve in this life and in Eternity.
As well.
I like Pope Leo’s emphasis on developing our Reltionship With Jesus Christ. This is so much better than accumulating that which we can’t take .
This Gospel is a wonderful reminder.
Thank you for your good wishes, Fr. Dave!
I think having wisdom and knowing that christianity is a relationship with the Lord,
then, using the goods of this world will fall into place.
Well said!
Beautiful!
Amen
Thank you!
Dear Father Dave,
Your thoughts on this gospel are very grounded. Thank you.
In a way, it’’s about perspective as well as fairness.
I suspect that people with power and wealth need to be very careful about how they perceive themselves and subsequently how they behave.
God bless you and thank you for all that you do.
Kathleen
You are very welcome!