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Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Monday October 21, 2024

Daily Mass Readings for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years.

  • First Reading (Cycle 1) - Romans 4:20-25: Abraham trusted God's promise without doubt, giving God glory. His faith was counted as righteousness. This principle applies not just to Abraham, but also to us if we believe in the resurrected Jesus.
  • First Reading (Cycle 2) - Ephesians 2:1-10: We were once dead in sin, living selfishly. God's mercy and love revived us through Christ. Salvation is a gift from God, not earned. We're created for good works pre-planned by God.
  • Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 1) - Luke 1: The Lord has sent a savior from David's lineage to free us. He has kept his promises made through prophets and to Abraham. We can now worship him without fear.
  • Responsorial Psalm (Cycle 2) - Psalm 100: The Lord is God, and we are his people. Serve him with joy and come into his presence with thanksgiving and praise. His kindness and faithfulness last forever.
  • Gospel - Luke 12:13-21: Jesus warns against greed, emphasizing that life isn't just about accumulating possessions. He illustrates this with a parable about a rich man foolishly hoarding his wealth, only to die unexpectedly.

Themes for the Daily Mass Readings for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

  • Wealth and Eternity: Jesus tells a parable about a rich man who stores up treasures for himself but is not rich toward God. The theme emphasizes that material wealth is fleeting and doesn't guarantee eternal security.
  • Warning against Greed: The passage opens with someone asking Jesus to divide an inheritance, and Jesus warns against all kinds of greed. This suggests that greed is not limited to money but can manifest in many forms.
  • Death's Uncertainty: The rich man's plans are disrupted by his unexpected death. The theme conveys the unpredictability of life and death, urging a focus on what truly matters.

Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.

Luke 12:21

Thoughts for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Luke 12:13-21, Jesus presents a cautionary tale about a man overly absorbed in his material gains. The man is self-centered, frequently using terms like "I," "my," and "myself." His attitude serves as a warning for all of us to examine our priorities.

The message is clear: amassing wealth for personal gain doesn't align with God's values. Instead, the focus should be on contributing to the well-being of everyone. In other words, what matters is not just what we accumulate, but how we use our resources to benefit others.

It's an important prompt for self-reflection. Do we focus on hoarding material goods for ourselves or do we use what we've been given to help others? As the saying goes, "You can't take it with you." At the end of our lives, it's not our wealth but our actions that define us.

So, the gospel urges us to reassess our goals and values. Rather than striving just for personal gain, we should aim to use our gifts for the betterment of all, aligning ourselves more closely with what truly matters to God.

Prayer for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Lord help me remember that my life on earth is not just to make myself more comfortable. Show me how I can use my gifts for others. Amen.

Homilies and Reflections for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Word On Fire: Eternal Focus Over Earthly Gains

In this reflection for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the fleeting nature of worldly success and pleasures in today's Gospel, emphasizing that these are destined to pass away. He uses the image of a firework to illustrate the ephemeral nature of all things, pointing out that this isn't meant to depress us but to refocus our attention on eternal matters. The central message is that storing treasures on Earth is futile when compared to the importance of being "rich in what matters to God."

USCCB Reflection: A Call for Simplicity and Service

This USCCB video reflection for Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time emphasizes how modern American culture prioritizes material accumulation, often promoting the idea that "more is better." This contrasts sharply with Jesus' teachings, which focus on spiritual wealth over material abundance. In a society where hoarding is glamorized and excess is normalized, Jesus' parables remind us to consider what actually matters to God. Wealth in God's eyes is measured by how well we care for the vulnerable among us— the naked, the blind, the imprisoned, and so on. The message advocates for a simpler life focused on service and faith, echoing Saint Ignatius of Antioch's words that true greatness lies in serving God, not in accumulating wealth.

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