Daily Gospel Reflection for October 21, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

It’s October 21, and if your neighborhood grocery store is anything like mine, it sold out of Halloween candy in September. My grocery store now boasts a hearty offering of chocolate Santa Claus and snowman treats. Every time I go to the store, I think to myself, if even a bit sarcastically, “Great. This is exactly what we need in October – more junk food to get me ready for Christmas in two months.” Even though I know that I do not need any of these premature Christmas treats, somehow, I feel still feel tempted to buy some of the goodies to store them for Christmas.

This culture of premature seasonal marketing promotes exactly the kinds of material excess that today’s Gospel warns us about.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us,

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

He then shares a parable of a rich man who had such a great harvest that he decided to tear down his barns to build bigger ones to contain the harvest. It did not occur to the rich man that he might share his harvest with people in need.

Jesus warns against storing up material possessions, and instead, to be “rich in what matters to God.” God desires us to live lives of virtue, especially lives of faith, hope, and love.

Ponder:

Does materialism distract you from walking with God? How are you rich in what matters to God?

Pray:

Lord, we thank You for the resources that You give us. Help us to exercise the virtue of prudence as we enjoy material possessions.

Copyright 2024 Elizabeth Tomlin