Monday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time, October 17, 2022

Fr. Rick’s Gospel Reflection for Monday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time, October 17, 2022

Luke 12:13-21 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101722.cfm

Please open your Scriptures and read these verses prayerfully.

DISCOVERING THE POWER OF A MAGNIFYING GLASS.

As a kid, I spotted a magnifying glass on the kitchen counter, and I noticed how it made small things bigger. To my surprise, I later discovered that a magnifying glass could make fire.

The sun’s beam intensified so that it could burn whatever it touched. However, it lost its fire when I pulled the magnifying glass from the object toward me.

Our possessions are like magnifying glasses. When we pull our affection and love away from God and others to ourselves, our possessions lose their power to do a greater good.

It can be dangerous to divide our hearts into compartments, some for God, some for others, and some for ourselves. When we divide our love, we love only ourselves. We ask, “What’s in it for me.?”

That is what the man in the gospel did when he had too much grain. He put all his goods in one basket, his heart, and there wasn’t any room left for anyone else.

However, loving God first makes our hearts so big that there is plenty of room to do good for others. Why? Because God gives us His big heart that will always provide for ourselves and others.

Loving God first is like the magnifying glass that gathers all the sun’s rays into one beam. So, all our love for people and things gathers in a powerful beam that increases our intensity to do good. This gospel came to life here at Blessed Sacrament Church last August.

We had a backpack drive, and our parish and school people came in a big way. Do you know that today 181 children have a backpack with all the school supplies they need to begin the school year? We had trays of pencils and pens, scissors, and glue.

It was amazing how your love for Jesus in those kids multiplied what no one of us could do if we kept those supplies to ourselves. Their smiles and thank you’s said it all. I thank God for you and for being a part of this parish.

The Gospel Challenge:

Keep your magnifying glass handy and set God’s goodness anywhere you go.

IGNITE THE FIRE.

God bless you, my friends.

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.

Pastor

Blessed Sacrament Church

11565 66th Ave. N.

Seminole, FL 33772

727-391-4661

pastor

www.bscchurch.com

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