Where Does My Heart Find Rest?

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

03 August 2025

 

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

 

Reflection By:

Bro. Carlo Alexis Malaluan

Diocese of Imus

 

You’ve probably heard the old tale of King Midas—the man who wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. At first, it seemed like a dream come true. His palace sparkled, his wealth grew, and his fame spread. But that golden touch soon turned into a curse. The food he tried to eat turned to metal. Even his beloved daughter, when she ran into his arms, became a lifeless statue of gold. In the end, what he thought was a blessing revealed the tragic emptiness of having everything… except what truly matters.

The Gospel this Sunday tells a story not far from Midas’—a man blessed with an abundant harvest, so much, that his barns couldn’t contain it all. Like Midas, he thought to himself, “Now I can rest. I’ve made it. Soul, eat, drink, be merry.” He believed he had finally arrived at peace, that his heart could finally settle down.

But God calls him fool. “This very night your life will be demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?”

It’s easy to say we are not materialistic. Easy to claim we are not enslaved by money or the things that glitter in this world. But if we take an honest look at our daily lives—our thoughts before going to sleep, our worries upon waking, our plans, our fears—don’t they often reveal where our hearts truly rest?

The problem of the rich man isn’t his success, his hard work, or his good harvest. His downfall is his misplaced security. He thought his soul could find rest in what he owned, rather than in the One who gave it all. And so his heart, like Midas’, was trapped—not in poverty, but in the illusion of wealth.

Today’s Gospel asks us a quiet but piercing question: Where does my heart find rest? What kind of treasure do I hold closest to my chest? Is it something that can be taken away in a moment, or is it something eternal?

Isn’t that the same subtle temptation we face today? We often equate the rest of the heart with what we can accumulate—money, achievements, possessions, even relationships that offer us comfort. But even when we have them all, we remain restless. There’s always the fear of losing them. Always the anxiety of what’s next.

The Gospel challenges us to ask: What kind of treasure does my heart truly value? For the heart, as St. Augustine once said, is restless until it rests in God. True wealth cannot be measured by quantity, but by depth—the depth of our relationship with God, the depth of our love, the depth of our giving and belonging.

When the heart finds rest in the treasure of God, it becomes at peace even in scarcity. When the heart rests in authentic love, it feels whole even amid imperfections. When the heart rests in God’s will, it finds a peace the world cannot buy. When our hearts rest in God, there is peace—even when we don’t have everything figured out. When our hearts rest in love, there is fullness—even when life is not perfect. And when our hearts rest in doing the will of the Father, there is joy—even in the midst of uncertainty.

So today, perhaps we’re being invited to look at our own “golden touches”—those things we think will bring us peace, control, or contentment. Are they really feeding the soul, or are they turning what’s most human in us into something hollow? Where does my heart truly find rest? In God, or in things that fade away?

And if we realize we've been learning on fragile foundations, we need not be afraid to return. God is always waiting. Because His heart is the true home of our own. Because His heart is where ours was meant to rest all along.

Prayer

My Super All In One!

“ The Father bears witness from heaven to His Son. The Holy Spirit bears witness, coming down bodily in the form of a dove. The archangel Gabriel bears witness, bringing the good tidings to Mary. The Virgin Mother of God bears witness.”

- St. Cyril of Jerusalem

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,  which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?

We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

Second Reading: First Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13

Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, "Jesus be accursed." And no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many,  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Gospel: John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Reflection
By Anabelle Payod-Balla

I love watching movies. Movies would normally run for one and a half hours or two. But we all know that it takes months or even years to make a very good movie. We see the actors and the actresses on screen but we also know that there are more people other than those we see on screen who played important roles to make the movie happen. We don't see their faces in the movie, they are not hogging the limelight. We only see their names shown on the last part of the movie, when people are already on their way out and no longer paying attention to the screen.

Unlike Jesus, Mother Mary and some famous saints, the Holy Spirit seems to have lesser devotees. It is not common to hear Novena to the Holy Spirit. Though I would say that in most prayers, we always seek the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We know that He is always there, working behind the scene.

I am lucky to have known the Holy Spirit in the early years of my life. I got hold of this prayer to the Holy Spirit when I was in college and I’ve been reciting it as part of my daily night prayer ever since. I feel that I cannot go on without His help. I embraced Him as a vital part of my being, of my family. For me, the Holy Spirit is the life within me. He is my strength, my wisdom, my help, my protector, my comforter, my counselor, my director, my guide! I feel Him. He is like the music in me Who makes me sing in gladness, the wind beneath my wings, the force that helps make wonderful things happen in my life. He is the joy within that nourishes my soul! I love the Holy Spirit and He is with me and my family always. And I am sure, He is with you as well, just waiting for you to make Him part of your life.

As we celebrate the Pentecost, let us welcome and embrace the Holy Spirit and receive again His wonderful gifts of wisdom, understanding, fear of the Lord , counsel, knowledge, fortitude, and piety (reverence). Let us listen and obey His promptings. Let us allow Him to dwell in us so we can bear and share His fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.

Choose the Holy Spirit to be your constant companion. He will keep us close to the Father always.

Prayer

O Holy Spirit soul of my soul, enlighten, guide, strengthen, and console me. Teach me what I should do. Give me Your orders and I promise to be submissive in all that You desire of me and to accept all that You allow to happen to me. Grant only to me to know Your will.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, has taught the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Let Go!

First Reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved."  Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question. Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers.

This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:

'It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.”

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, (the names) of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.

There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles 1 of the Lamb. saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

Gospel: John 14:23-29

Jesus answered and said to him, " Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. " I have told you this while I am with you.

The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.

Reflection
By Annabelle Payod-Balla

Many times I imagine myself floating in the air, up to the ceiling while in deep prayer. I feel that it can happen, only if I truly let go and be carried away with the grace of being in union with God. However, I find myself holding back. Most of the times, destructed with things around me or the noisiness of my mind. There's just too much going on within me, around me...


Letting go could mean a lot things. To some, it means giving up, losing control. To others, it means freedom, courage.

It is not easy to let go. We normally don't like losing control over things. Or losing someone to others, to other worlds. There is separation anxiety because we tend to be emotionally attached to things, to people around us. There is fear of uncertainty, of being left behind. Fear of being moved out of our comfort zones. Fear of being embarrassed, of feeling awkward.

When Jesus saw the fears in the disciples' eyes, the fear of letting Him go, He told them not to be worried and upset, and not to be afraid. He said, "If you love me, you will be glad for I am going to the Father who is greater than I." Jesus was asking them to trust Him for the Father will send a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to help them remember His teachings.

Letting go could pave the way for greater things. Letting go empowers God's blessings to overflow. Letting go means letting God takes control. Letting go means trusting God.

Prayer   Father, please help us to us unchain Your Spirit within us. Help us set our souls free, free to soar up high and be with You. Help us to let go and allow Your plans to happen. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!