Reflection From

Fr. John

August 3, 2025

Jesus in this week’s Gospel is calling us to reflect on where we place our priorities. What is it that truly comes first in our lives?

The Lord tells the parable of the rich man who stored up treasure for himself. The man in the parable tore down his barns and built bigger ones. He then began to eat and drink and to enjoy life. This is a temptation for each of us. We can become so focused on building up wealth or our own reputation that we forget what truly endures. God responds to the man in the parable with the words, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?” (Luke 12:20) As the First Reading mentions, “Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” (Ecc. 1:2) We never know how much time we are given here on this earth. Therefore we are called to work for those things that endure.

The readings this week all point towards returning our focus to God and living in a way that prepares us for eternal life with Him. St. Paul in the Second Reading mentions, “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:2-3) The eternal life that St. Paul and Jesus speak about is closer than we think. We recall the words from Psalm 144, “Man is but a breath, his days are like a passing shadow.” (Psalm 144:4) Each day is a gift. We are meant to use the time we have been given to store up treasure in Heaven. St. Paul goes on to mention in his letter to the Corinthians, “Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” (Col 3:5)

We begin to turn away from sin not only by stopping the action itself but by striving to live a life of virtue. A virtue is a good habit or trait that leads to the perfection of the human person. St. Thomas Aquinas saw virtue not as a one time act but as a stable disposition that enabled one to consistently choose the good. Virtues enable us to act in accordance with what is good, and because they are habitual it makes it easier for us to choose the right course of action over the wrong.

To build new habits and to turn away from old ones is not easy. You can ask anyone who has tried to quit smoking or over eating. We begin building new habits first by turning to pray to the Lord for inspiration. We can ask Him which habits He would like us to change or which new ones he would like us to start. We then ask Him for the strength and the courage to make the one or two important changes needed. In attempting to change our attitude or pattern of life, it is best to begin small. This will help us not feel overwhelmed and to focus on changing that which is most important. It will also help to prevent us from feeling discouraged. Incremental progress is better than no progress. In reflecting on this coming week, let us take a look at the seven virtues of faith, hope, charity (love), prudence (wisdom), justice, fortitude (courage), and temperance (self-control). Which of these virtues is the Lord calling us to grow in and what are one or two ways we can begin to put that virtue into practice? By striving to live a virtuous life and turning away from sin, we will store up for ourselves treasure in heaven and gain eternal life with God forever.

Father John

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