Word to the Wise
Monday, October 23, 2023 - Monday in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 4:20-25 and Luke 12:13-21]"Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions." [Luke]
The parable of the Rich Fool is re-enacted over and over again. The reason is simple and is summed up in Job's famous statement: Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return..." and in 1 Timothy 6:7: For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it."
The parable of the Rich Fool always reminds me of a retreat exercise with students that was used during my time in campus ministry. Students sat in a big circle and were each given 15 slips of paper. They were asked to write down the five most important people in their life, their five most important possessions and their five favorite activities. The second step was to rank each group, crumple the slips and throw them into the center of the circle, beginning with the least one. At the end of the exercise, there were very few dry eyes in the place.
What is our "security?" The Rich Fool thought his security was the abundance of his crops that he had stored up, instead of sharing his abundance with others. He stored up "treasure for himself" instead of "treasure in heaven." How much of our life is based on what we HAVE? And if we are among the minority of this world who "have enough, " what do we do with it? How did we "manage to live" before microwaves, computers and cell phones? These are all sobering considerations, but necessary ones in the light of the gospel.
The Gospel According to Luke also has the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, which warns of the way that possessions and wealth can insulate us from our brothers and sisters in need. How much is "enough?" Our treasure in heaven may depend on what we do with our "treasure" on earth. AMEN