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document.write('<h3>Scripture Reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time<br>October 11, 2009</h3><p><strong><em>by <a target="_bla');
document.write('nk" href="http://www.parishwebmaster.com/services/authors/bio_bjubar.htm"><font color="#000000">Brandon Jubar</font></a>');
document.write('</em></strong></p><h3> Reading I: <a target="new" href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/wisdom/wisdom7.htm#v7">Wisdom 7:');
document.write('7-11</a><br>Reading II:<a target="new" href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/hebrews/hebrews4.htm#v12">Hebrews 4:12-13</');
document.write('a><br>GOSPEL:<a target="new" href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark10.htm#v17">Mark 10:17-30</a><br></h3><h3>W');
document.write('hat Do You Value Most?</h3><P>I like to think that I\'m a generous person. I donate my time, talents, and treasures to a');
document.write(' number of different organizations. But the gospel reading this Sunday is challenging. If Jesus told me to sell what I h');
document.write('ave, give it to the poor and then follow him, what would I really do?</P><h3>Possession Obsession</h3><P>In a sense, J');
document.write('esus truly does ask us to give up our possessions when we choose to follow him. As Christians, our material goods must b');
document.write('e lowered in importance, to the point where our decisions are not based upon them.</P><P>Especially in America, our obs');
document.write('ession with possessions must cease. The only time we should "keep up with the Joneses" is when Mr. Jones and his family ');
document.write('exemplify stewardship and truly live the gospel message. For when we focus our energy on getting that new boat, buying t');
document.write('hat sports car, or owning that 5,000 square foot estate, what are we really worshipping?</P><h3>Valuable Values</h3><P');
document.write('>In the first reading, we hear about the value of wisdom. What other "values" are important to us? Integrity? Honesty? C');
document.write('ompassion?</P><P>If integrity is important to me, am I willing to give it up in order to land that big promotion so I c');
document.write('an get that boat/car/house? If I am unwilling to give up my integrity, what would I be willing to give up? A little hone');
document.write('sty? Some compassion? How about a big chunk of "family time"? Or maybe Church on Sunday?</P><P>We must be very careful.');
document.write(' It is easy to say we will not compromise our "principles". But it\'s even easier to let them slowly erode, bit by bit. T');
document.write('hings like integrity, honesty and compassion are called "values" because they\'re valuable! We need to keep reminding our');
document.write('selves of that and check once in a while to make sure that we\'re still sticking to them.</P><h3>I Want It NOW</h3><P>W');
document.write('hen Jesus asks us to give up our obsession with possessions, he offers us great treasures in heaven instead. The problem');
document.write(' is that heaven seems so far away. In this time of almost instant gratification, we don\'t want to wait. We want our trea');
document.write('sure now.</P><P>As Christians, we need to recognize that the reward we receive immediately may be nothing more than inn');
document.write('er warmth after helping someone, or a feeling of peace when we\'ve done the right thing. But if we do our best to follow ');
document.write('Jesus, God can make it possible for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and live with Him forever.</P><P>I think that bea');
document.write('ts a big house, but that\'s just me. What do <em>you</em> value most?</P><hr><h3>Life Applications:</h3><P>If you could buy any one single thing, what would it be and why?<');
document.write('br>How often do you worry about money?<br>How often do you worry about your soul?</P><a href="http://www.parishwebmaste');
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document.write('s/authors/bio_bjubar.htm"><font color="#000000">Brandon Jubar</font></a></em></strong><A HREF="http://www.ParishWebmaste');
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