Aim At Heaven
Wednesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 19:11-28 – While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, "A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, 'We do not want this man to be our king.' But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, 'Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.' He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.' Then the second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.' And to this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.'
“Then the other servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.' He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.' And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.' But they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten gold coins.' He replied, 'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
If we wish to understand Scripture, we must read its parts in light of the whole. Jesus isn’t saying that the rich will become richer by getting the money of the poor, or that the poor will lose everything. That would be a contradiction to His other teachings. Jesus’ words in this Gospel refer to spiritual riches—specifically, to faith.
If we are rich in faith, we will receive more and more faith. If we have no faith, but possess other things instead, even these things will be taken away. C.S. Lewis explains this truth well: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you get neither” (Mere Christianity p.134) We must nourish our faith. Our faith is everything. What might we all do to help us better love, learn, and live our Catholic faith?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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