Collect taken from Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time.
Collect: O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son…
“O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us“
– Protector, foundation, and sanctifier: these are the attributes we focus upon today as we ask, yet again, for mercy to be shed upon us.
“and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure.”
– The good things that pass away can be dangerous to us, so we ask the protector to rule over how we use them. The things that pass away are not a good foundation for life, so we ask the true foundation to guide us in establishing ourselves. The things that pass away, when used well, can point us to what is holy and eternal, so we ask the sanctifier to set our hearts and minds on those enduring things.
Questions & Advice: What is your most prized possession? Why is it so significant to you? How often do you stop to ask God’s guidance in your decisions about finances, diet, education, or even vacation?
Read about poverty of spirit and the desire for God in the Catechism (2544-57). Spend some of your daily prayer time reflecting on the way you view your possessions and worldly opportunities. Pray to the Holy Spirit for a greater desire for God and wise detachment in how you use the things you have.
