Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 23rd week in ordinary time, September 10, 2025

Delivered by Evelyn from the Parish of the Holy Spirit in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Colossians 3: 1-11; Rs psalm 145: 2-3.10-11.12-13ab; Luke 6: 20-26.GOD FOR THE POOR AND THE RICH Our meditation today is entitled: Godfor the Poor and the Rich. In the bible, we often find descriptions of theriches of the world which are generally considered to have bad influences thatendanger our spiritual lives. People who have them are considered rich, whilethose who lack of them or not having at all are considered poor. In particular,those who are full are considered rich, those who are hungry are poor. It is not always bad or sinfull withregards to the goods or possessions of the world. All are God's creations thatare worthy for us. Precisely evil and bad refer to the attitudes and lifestylesof human beings who make the wealth or goods of this world as masters for theirlives. The most dangerous attitude should be to put God as number two or three.The Phareeses and leaders of the the people were the ones  that Jesus criticised and condemned because theirprimary intention was goods and possessions of the world. If human attitudes and lifestyles donot prioritize worldly goods and possessions, their lives will be worthy forthe Lord. Both the poor and the rich, they must put God above all things,including their wealth. The Lord Jesus calls it happiness. Every person is gracedhappiness, as long as he or she follows Jesus faithfully and truthfully. What'swrong is the old and worldly lifestyle based on matterials of the world. Themain results would be sins such as fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil itention,greed, anger, furious, slander, dirty words that come out of the worldly-mindedpeople. There are some people give their ownreason, that leaving out the old lifestyle is difficult because thay can not beseparated from the environment on which they depend on. That is true, but atthe same time is wrong. They only see that the fault is from outsidethemselves. In fact, the environment and influences out there must becontrolled by their will, choices and mentality as trully human beings andbelievers. For example, I know very well that alcoholism and smoking will causeserious illness. All those alcohols and cigarets are out there. But if I havethe will, decisiveness and free will not to spend money to buy and consume anyof them, maybe I have a determination to influence what are around me. The gift and opportunity to use a new wayof life are actually possible for each one of us, because it is already givento us by God at the very beginning. Thus, this old style should already beremoved from us. Do not hope first of all for other people to influence andmove you to change because it will be no greater result. It is better and thefirst thing to do, is to change your own old style of life. Then you have yourbest opportunity to influence others the new style of the Lord Jesus Christ.Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Father almighty, may we always live in the new style brought byJesus Your Son. Our Father who art in heaven... In the name of the Father ...