Twenty-Fourth Friday of Ordinary Time

Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

Religion with contentment is something we all should strive for and while doing so we should keep in mind the “religion” part. Contentment without religion is a false happiness based on worldly pleasures and gratifications. It is temporary and full of temptations, traps, and harmful desires, which eventually strangle us and pierce us with many pains. Although many people believe money can buy happiness, it never lasts and only leads us farther and farther away from the true contentment that comes from living out our faith. When we choose to let go and let God think, speak, and work through us, then we shall discover a joy and a peace which cannot be bought or sold. It is the calm that comes from being united with God in our every action and leads us toward the everlasting happiness of the Beatific Vision, which was purchased for us by the Body and Blood of Christ.

Are we living lives of false contentment based on worldly pleasures? Or are our lives founded first and foremost on being spiritually content? How can we grow in the joy and peace that comes from turning everything over to God and letting Him use it how He wills?

O Lord, lead us to a place of religious contentment.

Amen.