This week's readings focus on what we truly need to make us happy. The gospel brings us another reminder that earthly riches are of little value in the grand scheme of life. As individuals, as families and as a society this is an ongoing challenge particularly as we emerge from difficult times in our life. It is hard to let go of our earthly wealth, to share it with those who need it and to trust that God’s way is the better way. Obviously we can’t ignore earthly things but we have to guard against becoming too absorbed in them and forgetting the things that are really important in our life … our families, helping others, God. In the gospel Jesus tells the story of the rich man who built bigger and bigger barns to store his harvest. He became obsessed with storing his harvest and keeping it all for himself. Instead, what could the rich man have done with his excess stock? Perhaps the man could have shared his excess crop with those around him who were in need rather than storing it in his already full barn ….. The rich man busied himself creating more wealth, making more money instead of having a generous heart and sharing with the people who were in need. 

Children today have eyes for justice and are open to the sense of mission. We encourage our children to think beyond the desire to have more possessions by casting their eyes to those in our world who have less. We are ‘Missionary People’ and it is our job to make this world a better place. This is a BIG task but it all begins with small steps: helping our neighbour, giving to those who are in need but, more importantly, raising awareness to the injustice in our world.