Happy Labor Day weekend! It might seem ironic that we celebrate the gift of labor by taking the day off of work, but the truth is that we need rest from our labors to cherish the gift of our work and to labor for the right reasons. Rest is the natural corollary to labor which allows us to remember the meaning of our work and restore us so that our labors remain fruitful. We don't live to work or work merely to live. Rather, we work to build up God's Kingdom in whatever work we are given, and give thanks to God for entrusting us with the gifts we need to carry out our daily labors.

During Jubilee Years like the one we are in (the Jubilee Year of Hope), there are Holy Doors that pilgrims can pass through as an act of faith and hope in the Lord's mercy and generosity. The Holy Doors for this Jubilee Year are in Rome in the four major basilicas. By the end of the year, millions of pilgrims will have gathered in Rome and passed through these doors, entering these holy basilicas to pray and give thanks to God for all His gifts. Keep the Jubilee doors in mind as you listen to today's Scripture readings.

"Eyes on Christ". This is one of the foundational phrases I pray with often and which I teach frequently to others. It reminds us to lift up our hearts to Jesus whenever we need guidance on the right path to follow. The Letter to Hebrews speaks to this reality when the author tells us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and persevere in our faith. This is especially important when we experience temptation, suffering, and the trials of life. Eyes on Christ.

We belong to the Lord, and He to us. This mutual belonging is an entrustment we have received in faith through Baptism. This entrustment is the effect of the covenant of truth, peace, and justice that God made with His people from generations ago. We carry the torch of the covenant in today's world, to be the light of God's final and definitive covenant in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Be rich in what matters to God. These closing words of Jesus in our Gospel define the blessed life He came to bring us. What matters most to God is setting our heart on heaven and helping others receive what they need in order to do the same. Jesus isn't opposed to us pursuing wealth, pleasure, power, or honor, but shows us that these riches are meant to be received in proportion to our state in life and for God's glory. When anything in life becomes self-serving, we know we have lost our way. On the other hand, when we receive in gratitude the things that better help us love God and our neighbor, we begin to live the blessed life.