WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflections for 9/26/14

September 26, 2014  /  Joe Parisi

What Motivates Us?

 by Fr. Richard Hadel, S.J.

 

We live in a very materialistic world.  People think only of becoming rich or becoming influential and controlling, or knowing everything and excelling in all we do, especially in sports.  Yes, we want to be "Tops".

 

Where does this come from?  Is it pride, or the desire for power and control?  Maybe.  It comes from putting the world FIRST on our agenda, forgetting that we have been created by a loving Father, who wants to share eternal life with us.

 

The parable in Sunday's gospel tells us about the greedy tenants who want to keep all the produce, all the grapes for themselves.  They refuse to give any produce to the owner.  The tenants ignore the landowner who represents God our Father.

 

How sad!  Yet we often act in the same way.  We want to take all for ourselves and seldom think of God and how he helps us.

 

Jesus teaches us to be generous.  Jesus was generous when he offered his life on the cross to save you and me.  God the Father wants us to love him, our Creator, but also to love everyone.  Jesus said, "love one another as I have loved you."  We live in God's world and we owe him gratitude for all he gives us.