Becoming Rich in the Sight of God

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Eighteenth Week :  Sunday*

*Gospel : Lk 12:13-21*

*First Reading : Col 3:1-5, 9-11*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17*

*Second Reading : Col 3:1-5, 9-11*

*Becoming Rich in the Sight of God*

*1) Gospel on Richness*

the Gospel passage of the *Rich Fool* — begins and ends with richness, but the type of richness is what Jesus challenges us to think about.

It begins with someone asking about material inheritance (earthly riches)

It ends with Jesus urging people to be *“rich toward God”* (spiritual riches)

*2) A Reversal of Riches*

The Gospel’s structure shows a powerful reversal:

Starts with a concern for earthly inheritance

Ends with a call to build heavenly inheritance

What the world calls richness, God may call poverty — and vice versa. 

This Gospel urges a change in perspective: from temporary gain to eternal value

*3) False Security in Wealth*

The rich man believes he is secure because of his stored grain. 

But Jesus calls him a fool, not for being wealthy, but for thinking that life is under his control. 

He plans for many years ahead, yet dies that very night. 

This shows how uncertain life is — and how eternal readiness matters more than material preparation.

*4) Why Rich man is Fool*

The very fact he has become rich, he is not stupid. He must have been very shroud person. Yet Jesus calls him Fool. Because

Instead of destroying the existing buildings he would have built new ones 

In the first few lines has the words, mine, me, I, my. This shows he is only thinking about him, as if no one is existing

Thirdly, for him life consists only in *rest, eating drinking, and making merry!* Nothing beyond this 

Really he is a great fool

*5) How to Become Rich in God's sight*

*A) Be Generous and Share with the Needy*

Heavenly wealth is increased when earthly wealth is used for the good of others. 

Generosity shows that one's heart is not enslaved to money but is aligned with God’s heart of compassion. Generosity opens the soul to grace.

*B) Live by Faith, Not by Sight*

Those who trust God even when things are uncertain, and live according to His promises, are considered rich in faith (James 2:5). 

Faith pleases God and is counted as spiritual wealth.

*C) Love Deeply and Sincerely*

Love is the currency of heaven. Loving God and neighbor from the heart fulfills the law (Romans 13:10) and reflects the nature of God. 

True richness is found in relationships grounded in divine love.

*D) Cultivate Humility and Dependence on God*

To be “poor in spirit” means recognizing our need for God.

This poverty leads to spiritual richness. God lifts up the humble (James 4:10) and fills them with His grace.

*E) Store Up Treasures in Heaven*

Eternal treasure comes from holy living, sacrificial love, and obedience to God's will. 

Every act of goodness done in secret is remembered by the Father in heaven (Matthew 6:4,6,18).

*F) Walk in Obedience to God's Word*

Obedience demonstrates that one's faith is alive. Those who listen to God's Word and follow it build their lives on rock, not sand (Matthew 7:24). 

This spiritual foundation is part of true wealth.

*G) Bear the Fruits of the Spirit*

Character shaped by the Spirit is priceless in God’s eyes. 

Such fruit reflects God’s nature and blesses others, leaving an eternal legacy.

*6) Final Word*

To be rich in God's sight is to live a life filled with:

Faith

Love

Generosity

Obedience

Humility

Kingdom focus

Spiritual fruit

Jesus warns in Luke 12:15: *“Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”* 

Instead, it consists in being abundant in grace, truth, and love—that is, rich in what truly matters to God.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Herod's statement—“This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead!

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Seventeenth Week :  Saturday*

*Gospel : Mt 14:1-12*

*First Reading : Lv 25:1, 8-17*

*Responsorial Psalm : 67:2-3, 5, 7-8*

*Herod's statement—“This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead!”*

*1) Psychological Guilt and Fear*

Herod had beheaded John despite knowing he was a righteous and holy man (Mark 6:20). 

Now, upon hearing about Jesus’ miracles, his conscience is stirred.

Instead of joy or curiosity, Herod is haunted by guilt and fear. 

He assumes the miraculous power at work in Jesus must be John, risen to avenge or confront him.

Guilt makes people see ghosts, not grace.

This shows how unrepented sin can distort perception.

Herod doesn’t see Jesus for who He is—the Son of God—but through the lens of his unresolved past.

*2) Distorted Understanding of Resurrection*

Herod’s statement suggests a superstitious belief in resurrection or reincarnation, but without real spiritual insight. 

The idea that John could come back from the dead to perform miracles reflects fear, not faith.

Herod believes in resurrection, but not in repentance.

Unlike true biblical resurrection hope (e.g., Jesus’ resurrection as victory over death), Herod sees resurrection as a threat, not a promise.

*3) Contrast Between Power and Prophecy*

John had no miracles associated with him (John 10:41), yet Herod attributes Jesus’ miracles to him. 

This shows Herod’s failure to distinguish the unique identity of Jesus. He sees only a guilty past, not the present revelation of God.

It also highlights how the prophetic voice, even silenced, continues to convict. 

John may be dead, but his message still echoes in Herod’s conscience.

The truth cannot be buried—it will rise again and confront the heart.

*4) The Power of a Witnessed Life*

John’s life was so impactful that even Herod could not forget him. 

The fear that John had come back shows the lasting power of a godly life—a legacy that speaks even after death.

A faithful life leaves a mark even on the hearts of the wicked.

Herod had silenced the voice, but not the influence.

This encourages Christians today to live prophetic, courageous lives, knowing that even in persecution, truth endures.

*5) A Mirror to Examine Ourselves*

Herod’s reaction invites us to ask:

Are we running from a truth we need to face?

Do we try to explain away spiritual things out of guilt or fear?

Do we mistake conviction for condemnation?

Rather than fearing that the past will rise to haunt us, we are invited by Jesus to bring the past to the Cross, where mercy meets truth.

Herod reminds us that believing in resurrection is not enough—what matters is how we respond to it. 

Will we be like Herod, haunted by truth and clinging to sin? 

Or like the disciples, transformed by the risen Christ and sent to proclaim life?

*6) Herod’s View vs. Biblical Resurrection Hope*

Herod’s View - Based on fear and guilt

Biblical View - Based on faith and hope

Herods View : Misunderstands power as threat

Biblical View : Understands power as life-giving

Heord Sees resurrection as vengeance . Biblical view Sees resurrection as victory over death

Heords view - Leads to paranoia

Biblical view - Leads to peace and transformation

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Honour of the Prophet/Jesus in ones own Native place

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Seventeenth Week :  Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 13:54-58*

*First Reading : Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11ab*

*The Honour of the Prophet/Jesus in ones own Native place*

*1) Familiarity breeds contempt*

The people of Nazareth knew Jesus too well — or so they thought. 

They could not reconcile the ordinary man they grew up with and the divine authority He demonstrated.

*Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?”* (Matt 13:55)

They judged by appearances, not by faith.

Sometimes we fail to recognize God’s work in those close to us. 

We may think: *“I know them too well to believe they are called by God.”* But God often speaks through the familiar.

*2) Rejection of the prophet is part of the prophetic mission*

Jesus placed Himself in the line of prophets like:

Jeremiah, who was mocked by his own people.

Amos, rejected in Bethel and told to go back to Judah (Amos 7:12-13).

Elijah, who had to flee from his own nation.

To be a prophet — to speak God's truth — often means being misunderstood, rejected, or dismissed, especially by one’s own. 

Yet faithfulness to God must come before popularity.

*3) Faith is the key to God’s action*

Jesus could not do many miracles in Nazareth because of their lack of faith (Matt 13:58). Their hearts were closed.

Faith opens the door to miracles. Doubt, pride, or prejudice — especially against the *"ordinary"* — can block God’s power.

Ask: Am I open to hearing God's voice even from unexpected sources?

*4) Jesus' identity and mission go beyond family  and village*

By saying this, Jesus also redefines kinship and spiritual community:

“Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? ... Whoever does the will of my Father.” (Matt 12:48-50)

God's call may separate us even from those closest to us. 

True discipleship may mean standing alone for the truth, as Jesus did.

*5) Encouragement for those who feel rejected*

Many faithful people today feel unheard, ignored, or mocked by those around them — family, parish, friends.

Jesus understands this pain. He lived it. 

Your rejection doesn't mean you're wrong. It may mean you're walking the prophetic path. Don’t lose heart.

*6) Jesus’ Broader Point*

In Luke 4:24-27, Jesus recalls how Elijah was sent to a foreign widow and Elisha healed a Syrian leper (Naaman) — not Israelites. 

He implies that God's grace often reaches outsiders more easily than those who presume they know God. 

The people of Nazareth became furious.

*7) Final Word*

*A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house."*

This saying reminds us that:

God works through the ordinary and familiar.

Prophetic voices are often resisted, even at home.

Rejection is not a failure, but part of the mission.

Faith is essential to recognize God’s presence.

Like Jesus, may we remain faithful — even when our voices are not honored — trusting that God sees, honors, and uses every act of truth spoken in love.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Bucket in the parable of Net

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Seventeenth Week :  Thursday*

*Gospel : Mt 13:47-53*

*First Reading : Ex 40:16-21, 34-38*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, 11*

*The Bucket in the parable of Net*

*1) Bucket : The Symbol of Preservation for the Kingdom*

The bucket represents those who are accepted and preserved for eternal life. 

It is the vessel where the *“good”* are gathered, a sign of their value and purpose in God’s eternal plan.

Just as fishermen keep the edible, valuable fish in buckets to bring home, God gathers His faithful for His heavenly household.

Are we living in such a way that we will be *“kept”* in the bucket—chosen for the eternal banquet?

*2) Bucket : The Symbol of God’s Selection and Judgment*

The act of putting the good fish into buckets shows the discernment and judgment of God. 

Not everything caught in the net is kept. 

The bucket reveals a clear line between those who belong to God and those who do not.

Am I assuming that being caught in the net (being in the Church) is enough? Or am I truly transformed and pleasing in the eyes of God?

*3) Bucket : The Image of the Church’s Mission and Destiny*

The net is the Church’s outreach to the world. 

But the bucket reminds us: final membership in the Kingdom isn’t automatic. There will be a divine sorting. 

The Church invites all, but only the righteous, the faithful, the repentant will be gathered into the *“bucket of eternal life.”*

The Church is open to all, but the final *“bucket”* is for those who respond in faith, holiness, and love.

*4) Bucket : The Sign of the Coming Judgment*

Jesus says clearly that *“this is how it will be at the end of the age”* (v.49). 

The bucket symbolizes the final fate of the righteous, just as the discarded fish symbolize the fate of the wicked. 

This is not merely symbolic—it is eschatological truth.

The bucket reminds us that judgment is real. It is a call to conversion, urgency, and holiness.

*5) Spiritual Lessons*

The bucket calls us to self-examination: Am I living a life worthy to be gathered and kept by God?

It reminds us of God’s mercy in still giving time before the net is pulled ashore.

It warns us against complacency, assuming that being part of the net (the Church, the community) is enough.

It offers hope—that if we live faithfully, we will be gathered into the eternal *“bucket,”* the Kingdom of Heaven.

*6) Final Thought*

The bucket in this parable is simple, yet deeply meaningful. 

It represents God’s loving and just choice to preserve what is good, holy, and pleasing to Him. 

May we strive to be among those gathered in His bucket, ready for His Kingdom.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*