Flocknote

Hello, parishioners:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses a topic that resonates across centuries and cultures: the temptation to place our trust in possessions. A man comes to Jesus asking Him to settle a family inheritance dispute. Rather than acting as a judge, Jesus uses the moment to teach a deeper truth. He warns against greed, telling the parable of a rich man who, after a bountiful harvest, decides to store up all his goods and rest easy. But God calls him a fool: “This very night your life will be demanded of you.”

The message is not that wealth itself is evil. Scripture often speaks positively of hard work and providing for one’s family. But the danger lies in allowing wealth to become our ultimate security, even our god. The rich man in the parable lives entirely for himself. There is no mention of others—no sharing, no gratitude, no concern for those in need. His only thoughts are about accumulating and enjoying more.

Jesus reminds us that life does not consist of an abundance of possessions. True life, the kind that endures beyond death, is found in being “rich toward God.” What does that mean? It means living in a way that reflects God’s generosity: giving, forgiving, loving without counting the cost. It means seeing our blessings not as private treasures, but as gifts entrusted to us to serve others.

This Sunday, we are invited to ask: Where is my treasure? What do I invest my time, energy, and hopes in? Do I believe that my worth is measured by what I own, or by how I love?

It is also important to ask, Do I use my wealth to control others or the Church? We are invited to give without strings or conditions. “But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing… “(Matthew 6:3.)

St. Paul echoes this call in the second reading: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” This doesn’t mean ignoring our responsibilities or rejecting the world. Rather, it’s a call to live with a heavenly perspective—to value what God values, and to seek the kingdom above all.

Let us take a moment this week to reflect on what we cling to. May we not be like the man in the parable, storing up for a future that is not guaranteed, but instead be found “rich toward God,” building our lives on love, generosity, and faith.

Lord, help us not to place our trust in passing things, but in You, the source of all true security.

-- Fr. Augustine Joseph

Friday, August 08:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
Saturday, August 09:
- Reconciliation 4:00 p.m. (Church)
- Vigil Mass 5:00 p.m. (Church)
Sunday, August 10: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -
Coffee & Donuts After Each Mass (Family Fellowship Sunday)
- Mass 7:30 a.m. (Church)
- Mass 9:30 a.m. (Church/Livestream)
- Mass 11:30 a.m. (Church)
Monday, August 11:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- Christian Meditation 5:30 p.m. (Ignatius)
- Men of Faith Dinner Meeting 6:00 p.m. (Hall)
Tuesday, August 12:
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
Wednesday, August 13: First Day of School for the Livermore Valley School District
- Mass 8:30 a.m. (Chapel/Livestream)
- New Testament Study Group 6:30 p.m. (Pope)