Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Last Sunday's Homily and Reflection October 13th 2024 St. Augustine's Parish New City, New York

 Spiritual Growth: A Lifelong Journey Toward Maturity



The statement, "All things are possible with God," often sparks reflection, especially in the context of a biblical teaching about the difficulty of rich people entering the kingdom of God. It underscores a profound truth: while wealth can be an obstacle, it is not a barrier that cannot be overcome through God's grace. This points us to a broader theme—spiritual growth—and the need for continuous development in our journey of faith. This kind of growth has to be deliberate.


Just as life is about growth, everything living must grow toward full maturity. From conception, a baby begins a journey of growth that continues well after birth. Physical growth eventually reaches a point of maturation in weight, height, and strength. Similarly, in education, we accumulate knowledge and obtain all kinds of degrees, marking milestones in our intellectual development and maturity. But growth does not end here.


We are also called to grow in spirit. Unlike physical or educational growth, spiritual growth does not stop at a particular age or stage of life. It is an ongoing process that continues until the day we die. Spiritual maturity is not a given simply because we grow older; stunted spiritual growth is often not proportional to our biologicall age.


Therefore, we must seek spiritual growth intentionally as stated earlier. Our wealth and achievements are not disabilities or hindrances, but tools that can be used for good. However, if we focus only on accumulating material wealth and neglect our spiritual development, we may find ourselves like the young rich man who walked away sad, overwhelmed by his possessions but lacking what truly matters for his soul's growth and maturity.


In the end, the pursuit of spiritual growth is about aligning ourselves with what is eternal, ensuring that we cultivate our faith and character alongside our worldly successes.

Amen!

Obviously there was a lot I could reflect on about this homily but this was what stood out the most and got me pondering about life and success-materially.

Yours Pal,
Ron Lawyer

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