Better Than Gold
May 22, 2024
Fr. John Riccardo
Brothers and sisters: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption, through whom we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:14-17
Each day, the Church puts before us a veritable feast not only in the Scriptures chosen for Mass but in the antiphons and prayers as well. Truth be told, the appetizers are so good that sometimes I never make it to the main course. I often find myself lingering in prayer with the entrance antiphon and opening prayer at Mass. Several weeks ago was one of those days. In the opening prayer for Mass on May 7 we asked the Father: “Grant almighty and merciful God that we may receive a share in the Resurrection of Christ Your Son.” A share? What does that mean?
A share, in investment terminology, refers to a unit of ownership. In looking at some of the most valuable companies in the world, I came across a share worth $550,000. A single share! Imagine how different life would be for most of us if we had a single such share! Of course, the extremely wealthy don’t have single shares but multiples shares, and because of their wealth they live vastly different lives than most of us. They travel wherever and whenever they want; they buy whatever they want; they live in enormous homes; they have the best of medical care; the things that occupy most of us much of the time, at least as related to money matters, are far from their minds. Yet, St. Paul tells the wealthy not to put their trust in something as uncertain as wealth (cf. 1 Timothy 6:17). Really? Uncertain? What could be more certain for almost all of us that money?
As economic crises remind us, though, money is in fact uncertain. Investments devalue; stock prices fall; sales dry up; industries collapse. And, more importantly, when we’re breathing our last and death comes for us, our wealth doesn’t matter. It’s absolutely impotent in front of death. And we can’t take it with us. A story is told of a King who instructed his servants to bury him with his hand outside the casket, to show to everyone there that at the end of this life, we all leave empty handed.
These thoughts came back to my mind again as I prayed with the excerpt this week from Paul’s Letter to the Romans. He reminds us that we are heirs, not of the founders of Alphabet, Microsoft, or Berkshire Hathaway, but of God. God! We have received, thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus, a share in the kingdom! That is to say, we have something analogous to a unit of ownership in abundant, unending life! This inheritance, unlike the one printed on paper, or stored away in gold and precious stones, is incapable of perishing and unfading. No thief can steal it, no economic disaster can touch it, and death – the great equalizer – does not threaten it.
As adopted children of the Father, the One who created the universe and who holds all things in His hands, we have a security that is literally beyond our comprehension. Shouldn’t we, as disciples of Jesus, as heirs of God, as those who have a share in the Resurrection of Jesus, be living even more differently and attractively than those with something as uncertain as wealth? Do people see in you and me that life lived differently? Are they provoked to jealousy by our peace, lack of fear, and confidence in the Father’s love the way people are often provoked to jealousy by the rich?
In his Second Letter to the Church in Corinth, Paul exhorted the believers with these words: “As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger; in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10).
May the Holy Spirit open the eyes of our minds this week to better understand the inheritance the Triune God has bestowed on us; fill us with delirious gratitude, and make us attractive witnesses of the difference God and God alone can make.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
May 2024
For three missions in Vancouver, BC:
Rescue LIVE Revival
Presbyterate Retreat
Equipping Day for ordained and lay.
For the presbyterate retreat in the Diocese of Lincoln, NE.
For all bishops and priests throughout our country.
For all of our benefactors and prayer partners.
For protection upon Fr. John, our team, and all our families.