Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 114
Lectionary: 114
Vanity of vanities,
says Qoheleth,
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,
and yet to another who has not labored over it,
he must leave property.
This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity.
vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill,
and yet to another who has not labored over it,
he must leave property.
This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart
with which he has labored under the sun?
All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation;
even at night his mind is not at rest.
This also is vanity.
Responsorial PsalmPS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
R. (1) If today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Reading 2COL 3:1-5, 9-11
Brothers and
sisters:
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.
If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly:
immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and the greed that is idolatry.
Stop lying to one another,
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator.
Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all.
GospelLK 12:13-21
Someone in the
crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
but are not rich in what matters to God.”
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves
but are not rich in what matters to God.”
Scripture Study
August 4, 2013
Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
This week the readings force us to look at the meaning of life. Where do I look for the meaning of my life? Is it reflected in my bank balance or safety deposit box? Or other possessions? Or is there something deeper? Is there an entirely different dimension where this meaning may be found? The first reading starts the search by leading us to the question: What is the point to life? In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells us His answer to this question. To Jesus the point to life is to be busy about the things that matter to God. To what extent has my faith altered my priorities? What is different about me and my life precisely because of my faith?
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23
2 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
2:21 For here is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and to another, who has not labored over it, he must leave his property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. 22 For what profit comes to a man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun? 23 All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity.
NOTES on First Reading:
* 1:2 The word used for vanity is a Hebrew word that literally means "breath" or "vapor" implying a transitory nature. The expression, "vanity of vanities", is a Hebrew superlative expressing the supreme degree of futility.
* 2:21 Among the Jews of ancient Israel no greater calamity could befall a man than to have no heir to whom he could leave his wealth and tradition. Here Qoheleth (Teacher) says that even if it is left to a child that son/ daughter would not appreciate it because they did not work for it.
* 2:22-23 Here the author expresses the despair which is the ultimate result of life that is lived without God. Although not included in the reading, the first positive statement in the book occurs in verse 24. Verses 24-26 present the idea that only by living in the presence and will of God can we have meaning and joy in life.
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.
9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 3:1-4 This section summarizes the teaching of the preceding section of this letter as a foundation for the instruction on behavior that is to follow.
* 3:1 This verse is a creedal statement based on Ps 110:1 that was used in the early church to show that the messianic promises were fulfilled in Christ.
* 3:3-4 Here although the resurrection of Christ has occurred and it will be followed by the resurrection of the believer, the complete manifestation of Jesus in His glory which He will share with us are portrayed as part of the completion of the end time which although partly here has not yet arrived in its fullness. Some of the elements of the end time are still missing.
* 3:9-11 This is the beginning of an exhortation to virtue and sounds much like a formula of baptism or reconciliation.
Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." 14 He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?" 15 Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions."
16 Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. 17 He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?' 18 And he said, 'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods 19 and I shall say to myself, "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!" 20 But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' 21 Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."
NOTES on Gospel:
* 12:13-34 Luke has joined together sayings that contrast those who focus on and trust in material possessions (rich fool of the parable in Luke 12:16-21) with those who recognize their complete dependence on God (Luke 12:21). For Luke, radical detachment from material possessions symbolizes attachment to heavenly treasure (Luke 12:33-34).
*12:15 In the early Church, greed was seen as a sign that one lacked full commitment to and trust in Jesus; it was often a charge made against the false teachers (Luke 16:14-18).
* 12:17-19 Note the number of times the words, "I" and "my" are used by the rich man. (I counted 10 times in one translation and 11 times in another.) The point is that his concern and focus is on himself only.
* 12:19 The words, "eat, drink," are indicators of a dissipated life echoed in 12:45.
* 12:20 This verse contains the punch line of the story and forces the hearers to ask, "What is life all about?"
* 12:21 Here Luke gives his answer to the question of verse 20. The meaning of life is to be found in acknowledging God and in placing our priorities in line with His. The words translated as "rich in what matters to God" is literally, "rich for God." Only when the things that matter to God are the things that matter to us will life have real meaning. Then one can be said to be "rich for God."
Meditation : "Beware of all covetousness"
Have you ever tried to
settle a money dispute or an inheritance issue? Inheritance disputes are rarely
ever easy to resolve, especially when the relatives or close associates of the
dead benefactor can't agree on who should get what and who should get the most.
Why did Jesus refuse to settle an inheritance dispute between two brothers? He
saw that the heart of the issue was not justice or fairness but rather greed
and possessiveness.
The ten commandments were
summarized into two prohibitions – do not worship false idols and do not covet
what belongs to another. It's the flip side of the two great commandments –
love God and love your neighbor. Jesus warned the man who wanted half of
his brother's inheritance to "beware of all covetousness." To
covet is to wish to get wrongfully what another possesses or to begrudge what
God has given to another. Jesus restates the commandment "do not
covet", but he also states that a person's life does not consist in the
abundance of his or her possessions.
August of Hippo, a fifth
century church father, comments on Jesus' words to the brother who wanted more:
Greed
wants to divide, just as love desires to gather. What is the significance of
“guard against all greed,” unless it is “fill yourselves with love”? We,
possessing love for our portion, inconvenience the Lord because of our brother
just as that man did against his brother, but we do not use the same plea. He
said, “Master, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” We say,
“Master, tell my brother that he may have my inheritance.” [Sermon 265.9]
Jesus reinforces his point with a parable about a foolish
rich man. Why does Jesus call this wealthy landowner a fool? Jesus does not
fault the rich man for his industriousness and skill in acquiring wealth, but
rather for his egoism and selfishness – it's mine, all mine, and no one else's. This
parable is similar to the parable of the rich man who refused to give any help
to the beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). The rich fool had lost the capacity to
be concerned for others. His life was consumed with his possessions and his
only interests were in himself. His death was the final loss of his soul!
In the parable of the rich
fool Jesus gives a lesson on using material possessions. It is in giving that
we receive. Those who are rich towards God receive ample reward – not only in
this life – but in eternity as well.
Cyril of Alexandria, a
fifth century church father, comments on Jesus' word to be rich toward
God:
It is
true that a person’s life is not from one’s possessions or because of having an
overabundance. He who is rich toward God is very blessed and has glorious hope.
Who is he? Evidently, one who does not love wealth but rather loves virtue, and
to whom few things are sufficient. It is one whose hand is open to the needs of
the poor, comforting the sorrows of those in poverty according to his means and
the utmost of his power. He gathers in the storehouses that are above and lays
up treasures in heaven. Such a one shall find the interest of his virtue and
the reward of his right and blameless life. [Commentary on Luke, Homily 89]
In this little parable Jesus probes our heart – where is your
treasure? Treasure has a special connection to the heart, the place of desire
and longing, the place of will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on is
our highest treasure. What do you treasure above all else?
"Lord Jesus, free my
heart from all possessivness and from coveting what belongs to another. May I
desire you alone as the one true treasure worth possessing above all else. Help
me to make good use of the material blessings you give me that I may use them
generously for your glory and for the good of others."
|
Love’s Labor Found
|
|
Eighteenth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
|
|
Luke 12: 13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
"Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me." He
replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and
arbitrator?" Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against
all greed, for though one may be rich, one´s life does not consist of
possessions." Then he told them a parable. "There was a rich man
whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ´What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?´ And he said, ´This is what I
shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall
store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, "Now as
for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat,
drink, be merry!" But God said to him, ´You fool, this night your life
will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they
belong?´ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but
is not rich in what matters to God."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe you want me to have faith in you, faith
that hearkens to your words without any second guessing. I hope in your
words, not relying solely on my own strength or reasoning. I love you. You
continue to astonish me by showing me that your ways are not my ways.
Petition: Lord, may I love you with all my heart, mind, soul and
strength.
1. Love’s Labor Lost: “Take care to guard against all greed.…”
Greed arises when our heart loves material things and possessions in selfish
and disordered ways. God created “things” – material reality – for a purpose:
to help us fulfill our mission in this life. Our heart can grow to love these
things and to love accumulating wealth for its own sake, not for the sake of
using it to fulfill our mission and save our soul.
2. Focused Love: Jesus has called us to “love the Lord your
God with your whole heart, your whole soul, with all your strength and with
all your mind.” But we only have one heart, one soul, one will and one mind.
If I love material wealth in a disordered way, then my one heart, one soul,
etc. will be divided and pulled in many directions simultaneously. Not only
will I not be able to love God with a total, faithful, focused love, I will
not be able to love anyone in this way. No matter whom I love, my love will
always be weakened and diluted by a divided heart.
3. Late Have I Loved… “Late have I loved You, O Beauty ever
ancient, ever new, late have I loved You. You were within me, and I looked
outside; I sought you, and miserable as I was, I longed for creatures, I was
detained by the wonderful works of your hands” (St. Augustine, Confessions).
What dilutes my love is disordered affection for the things God created. Our
heart is capable of loving multiple persons and things (God, parents,
children, friends), but only to the degree it is capable of focusing on one
of them. Loving God first is like using a magnifying glass: The rays of
sunlight, like the affection and love we have for numerous persons and
things, are united by the glass and magnified into a more powerful beam. When
we love God first, our love for others and the world increases in intensity.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, you created my heart to love. Often I
fall in love with the things you created. I can even begin to love them more
than you, to forget that you are their Creator and that you have given them
to me to lead me to you. Help me to love you above them all, and to thank and
bless you in a thousand ways.
Resolution: Today I will take stock of my loves to make
sure they don’t compete with my love for God.
|
SUNDAY,
AUGUST 4
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
LUKE 12:13-21
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
LUKE 12:13-21
(Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Psalm 90; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11)
KEY VERSE: "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions" (v 15).
READING: In Jesus' time, respected Rabbis were often called upon to settle disputes. When a man approached Jesus regarding a quarrel over the family inheritance, Jesus asked, �Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?� (Lk 12:14). Jesus refused to intervene in this shameless argument about money. He then began a long discourse on the nature of material possessions. Jesus warned his disciples to be on guard against greed, since for one's life did not consist in an abundance of possessions (Lk 12:15). Jesus told a parable about the folly of focusing on material wealth. In the story, a rich man's barns were full, so he made plans to build even larger ones to store his harvest. He never saw beyond this world; all his plans were made on the basis of his life on earth. The man presumed that he would have many years to enjoy his prosperity, but he gave no thought to God's plans. Nor did he give any thought to sharing his wealth. When death came unexpectedly, the man's earthly riches counted for nothing. He was a �fool� who was so absorbed in his worldly goods, that he lost sight of God's eternal treasures.
REFLECTING: Would I be ready if the Lord called me home today?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to realize that you are more precious than any wealth I might possess.
In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge
‘People’s lives do not consist in the abundance of their
possessions.’
World affairs centre on the economy, shares, bank accounts, profit and loss. Through fear, people accumulate more and more. This addiction is not life-giving. In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of a new sort of life disposed to the goodness of our loving Father. It is futile to be anxious about your possessions, he says. Your Father will attend to your needs. Just trust.
In announcing our new pope, the media advertised his expertise and interest in economic adjustments. But faces in the crowd showed something quite different - joy in his simple presence. ‘Buona sera! And a loving smile. Trust and love filled the great square. Let us pray for Pope Francis’ wisdom and courage. We all need to get back to a life of prayer.
The Fool’s Vanity
Trust in God - as the Rock of our salvation, as the Lord who
made us His chosen people, as our shepherd and guide. This should be the mark
of our following of Jesus.
Like the Israelites we recall in this week’s Psalm, we have made
an exodus, passing through the waters of Baptism, freeing us from our bondage
to sin. We too are on a pilgrimage to a promised homeland, the Lord in our
midst, feeding us heavenly bread, giving us living waters to drink (see 1
Corinthians 10:1-4).
We must take care to guard against the folly that befell the
Israelites, that led them to quarrel and test God’s goodness at Meribah and
Massah.
We can harden our hearts in ways more subtle but no less
ruinous. We can put our trust in possessions, squabble over earthly
inheritances, kid ourselves that what we have we deserve, store up treasures
and think they’ll afford us security, rest.
All this is “vanity of vanities,” a false and deadly way of
living, as this week’s First Reading tells us.
This is the greed that Jesus warns against in this week’s
Gospel. The rich man’s anxiety and toil expose his lack of faith in God’s care
and provision. That’s why Paul calls greed “idolatry” in the Epistle this week.
Mistaking having for being, possession for existence, we forget that God is the
giver of all that we have, we exalt the things we can make or buy over our
Maker (see Romans 1:25).
Jesus calls the rich man a “fool” - a word used in the Old
Testament for someone who rebels against God or has forgotten Him (see Psalm
14:1).
We should treasure most the new life we have been given in
Christ and seek what is above, the promised inheritance of heaven. We have to
see all things in the light of eternity, mindful that He who gives us the
breath of life could at any moment - this night even - demand it back from us.
Yours in Christ,
Scott Hahn, Ph.D.
August 4
St. John Vianney
(1786-1859)
St. John Vianney
(1786-1859)
A man with vision overcomes obstacles and performs deeds that seem
impossible. John Vianney was a man with vision: He wanted to become a priest.
But he had to overcome his meager formal schooling, which inadequately prepared
him for seminary studies.
His
failure to comprehend Latin lectures forced him to discontinue. But his vision
of being a priest urged him to seek private tutoring. After a lengthy battle
with the books, John was ordained.
Situations
calling for “impossible” deeds followed him everywhere. As pastor of the parish
at Ars, John encountered people who were indifferent and quite comfortable with
their style of living. His vision led him through severe fasts and short nights
of sleep. (Some devils can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.)
With
Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he established La Providence, a home
for girls. Only a man of vision could have such trust that God would provide
for the spiritual and material needs of all those who came to make La
Providence their home.
His work
as a confessor is John Vianney’s most remarkable accomplishment. In the winter
months he was to spend 11 to 12 hours daily reconciling people with God. In the
summer months this time was increased to 16 hours. Unless a man was dedicated
to his vision of a priestly vocation, he could not have endured this giving of
self day after day.
Many
people look forward to retirement and taking it easy, doing the things they
always wanted to do but never had the time. But John Vianney had no thoughts of
retirement. As his fame spread, more hours were consumed in serving God’s
people. Even the few hours he would allow himself for sleep were disturbed
frequently by the devil.
Who, but
a man with vision, could keep going with ever-increasing strength? In 1929,
Pope Pius XI named him the patron of parish priests worldwide.
Comment:
Indifference toward religion, coupled with a love for material comfort, seem to be common signs of our times. A person from another planet observing us would not likely judge us to be pilgrim people, on our way to somewhere else. John Vianney, on the other hand, was a man on a journey with his goal before him at all times.
Indifference toward religion, coupled with a love for material comfort, seem to be common signs of our times. A person from another planet observing us would not likely judge us to be pilgrim people, on our way to somewhere else. John Vianney, on the other hand, was a man on a journey with his goal before him at all times.
Quote:
Recommending liturgical prayer, John Vianney would say, “Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire, it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.”
Recommending liturgical prayer, John Vianney would say, “Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire, it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.”
Patron Saint of:
Parish priests
Priests
Parish priests
Priests
LECTIO: 18TH
SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
Lectio:
Sunday, August 4, 2013
The concern about riches
keeps us away from God and
prevents us from serving our neighbour
Luke 12, 13-21
keeps us away from God and
prevents us from serving our neighbour
Luke 12, 13-21
1. Let us recollect ourselves in prayer
– Statio
We are here before You Oh Holy Spirit; we feel
the weight of our weakness, but we have all gathered here in your name; come to
us, help us, come to our hearts; teach us what we should do, show us the path
that we should follow, fulfil what You ask of us. You alone be the one to
suggest and to guide our decisions, because You alone, with God the Father and
with your Son, have a holy and glorious name; do not allow justice to be hurt
by us, you who love order and peace; may ignorance not cause us to deviate; may
human sympathy not render us partial, nor charges or persons influence us; keep
us close to You so that we may not drift away from truth in anything; help us,
we who are meeting in your name, to know how to contemplate goodness and
tenderness together, so as to do everything in harmony with you, in the hope
that by the faithful fulfilment of our duty we may be given the eternal reward
in the future. Amen.
2. Prayerful reading of the Word – Lectio
Of the Gospel according to Luke:
13 A man in the crowd said to him, 'Master,
tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.' 14 He said to him, 'My
friend, who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?' 15 Then
he said to them, 'Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for
life does not consist in possessions, even when someone has more than he
needs.' 16 Then he told them a parable, 'There was once a rich man who, having
had a good harvest from his land, 17 thought to himself, "What am I to do?
I have not enough room to store my crops." 18 Then he said, "This is
what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all
my grain and my goods in them, 19 and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have
plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat,
drink, have a good time." 20 But God said to him, "Fool! This very
night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose
will it be then?" 21 So it is when someone stores up treasure for himself
instead of becoming rich in the sight of God.'
3. To ponder the Word – Meditatio
3.1. Key to the reading:
The text proposed by the Liturgy for the 18th Sunday
of Ordinary Time forms part of a quite long discourse of Jesus on trust in God
which drives away every fear (Lk 12, 6-7) and on abandonment to God’s
Providence (Lk 12, 22-23). The passage for today in fact, is precisely, in the
middle of these two texts. Here are some of the teachings given by Jesus,
before he was interrupted by that “one of the crowd” (Lk 12, 13), about this
trust and abandonment:
Lk 12, 4-7: 'To you my friends I say: Do not be afraid of those who
kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear
him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you,
he is the one to fear. Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet
not one is forgotten in God's sight. Why, every hair on your head has been
counted. There is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than many sparrows.
Lk 12, 11-12: 'When they take you before synagogues
and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or
what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what
you should say.'
It is precisely at this point that the man
interrupts Jesus’ discourse, showing his concern about the question of
inheritance (Lk 12, 13). Jesus `preaches and says not to have “fear of those
who kill the body and then can do nothing else” (Lk 12, 4) and this man does
not perceive the meaning of the words of Jesus addressed to those whom he
recognizes as “my friends” (Lk 12, 4). From the Gospel of John we know that a
friend of Jesus is the one who knows Jesus. In other words, knows everything
that he has heard from the Father (Jn 15, 15). The friend of Jesus should know
that his Master is deeply rooted in God (Jn 1, 1) and that his only concern is
to seek to do the Will of the one who has sent him (Jn 4, 34). The advise and
the example of Jesus given to his friends is not to worry or be troubled for
material things because “life is worth more than food and the body worth more
than the dress” (Mt 6, 25). In an eschatological context Jesus admonishes:
“Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and
drunkenness and the cares of life” (Lk 21, 34).
This is why the question of the man who asks
Jesus to tell “his brother to give me a share of our inheritance (Lk 12, 13) is
superfluous before the Lord. Jesus refuses to act as judge between the parties
(Lk 12, 14) like in the case of the adulterous woman (Jn 8, 2-11). We can see
that for Jesus it is not important whom of these two is right. He remains neutral
before the question between the two brothers because his Kingdom is not of this
world (Jn 18, 36). This behaviour of Jesus reflects the image which Luke gives
us of the Lord, meek and humble. The accumulation of material goods, the
inheritance, fame, power, do not form part of the hierarchy of values of Jesus.
In fact, he uses the question of the two brothers to repeat and confirm that
“life does not depend on goods” (Lk 12, 15) even if they are abundant.
As usual, here too Jesus teaches by means of a
parable, in which he presents “a rich man” (Lk 12, 16) we would say an
insatiable, never satisfied rich man who does not know what to do with his
goods which are so abundant. (Lk 12, 17). This man reminds us of the rich man
who closes himself in self and is not aware of the misery of the poor Lazarus
(Lk 16, 1-31). It is certain that we cannot define this rich man as just, Just
is the one who like Job shares with the poor the goods received from God’s
Providence: “because I helped the poor who asked for help, the orphan who had
no helper. The dying man’s blessing rested on me and I gave the widow’s heart
cause to rejoice” (Jb 29, 12-13). The rich of the parable is a foolish man (Lk
12, 20) who has his heart full of goods received, forgetting God, the Supreme
and only One who is good. He “accumulates treasures for himself, but is not
enriched before God” (Lk 12, 21). In his foolishness he is not aware that
everything is bestowed freely from God’s Providence, not only his goods but
also his life. The terminology used in the parable makes us remark this:
- The harvest: “The land […] had given a good harvest” (Lk 12, 16)
- The life: “This very night the demand will be made for your soul” (Lk 12, 20).
It is not wealth in itself which constitutes the foolishness of this man but it is his avarice and greed which reveal his foolishness. In fact, he says: “My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time” (Lk 12, 19).
- The harvest: “The land […] had given a good harvest” (Lk 12, 16)
- The life: “This very night the demand will be made for your soul” (Lk 12, 20).
It is not wealth in itself which constitutes the foolishness of this man but it is his avarice and greed which reveal his foolishness. In fact, he says: “My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time” (Lk 12, 19).
The attitude of the wise man instead is very
diverse. We see this for example embodied in the person of Job who with great
detachment, exclaims: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I shall return
again. Yahweh gave, Yahweh has taken back. Blessed be the name of Yahweh!” (Jb
1, 21). The wisdom tradition has handed down or transmitted to us some
teachings on the right attitude to have before riches: Pr 27, 1; Si 11, 19; Qo
2, 17-23; 5, 17-6, 2. The New Testament also admonishes on this point: Mt 6,
19-34; I Co 15, 32; Jm 4, 13-15; Rev. 3, 17-18.
3.2. Question to orientate the meditation and
the application:
● What struck you most in this passage and in
the reflection?
● What does it mean for you that Jesus remains neutral before the question of the rich man?
● Do you believe that avarice has something to do which is strictly linked to the social condition in which one finds himself?
● Do we believe in God’s Providence?
● Are you conscious or aware that what you possess has been given to you by God, or rather do you feel that you are the absolute master of your goods?
● What does it mean for you that Jesus remains neutral before the question of the rich man?
● Do you believe that avarice has something to do which is strictly linked to the social condition in which one finds himself?
● Do we believe in God’s Providence?
● Are you conscious or aware that what you possess has been given to you by God, or rather do you feel that you are the absolute master of your goods?
4. Oratio
1Chronicles 29:10-19
'May you be blessed, Yahweh, God of Israel our
ancestor, for ever and for ever!
Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the splendour, length of days and glory, everything in heaven and on earth is yours. Yours is the sovereignty, Yahweh; you are exalted, supreme over all.
Wealth and riches come from you, you are ruler of all, in your hand lie strength and power, and you bestow greatness and might on whomsoever you please.
So now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name, for who am I and what is my people, for us to be able to volunteer offerings like this? - since everything has come from you and we have given you only what you bestowed in the first place, and we are guests before you, and passing visitors as were all our ancestors, our days on earth fleeting as a shadow and without hope.
Yahweh our God, all this wealth, which we have provided to build a house for your holy name, has come from you and all belongs to you.
'Knowing, my God, how you examine our motives and how you delight in integrity, with integrity of motive I have willingly given all this and have been overjoyed to see your people, now present here, willingly offering their gifts to you.
Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel our ancestors, watch over this for ever, shape the purpose of your people's heart and direct their hearts to you, and give an undivided heart to Solomon my son to keep your commandments, your decrees and your statutes, to put them all into effect and to build the palace for which I have made provision.'
Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the splendour, length of days and glory, everything in heaven and on earth is yours. Yours is the sovereignty, Yahweh; you are exalted, supreme over all.
Wealth and riches come from you, you are ruler of all, in your hand lie strength and power, and you bestow greatness and might on whomsoever you please.
So now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name, for who am I and what is my people, for us to be able to volunteer offerings like this? - since everything has come from you and we have given you only what you bestowed in the first place, and we are guests before you, and passing visitors as were all our ancestors, our days on earth fleeting as a shadow and without hope.
Yahweh our God, all this wealth, which we have provided to build a house for your holy name, has come from you and all belongs to you.
'Knowing, my God, how you examine our motives and how you delight in integrity, with integrity of motive I have willingly given all this and have been overjoyed to see your people, now present here, willingly offering their gifts to you.
Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel our ancestors, watch over this for ever, shape the purpose of your people's heart and direct their hearts to you, and give an undivided heart to Solomon my son to keep your commandments, your decrees and your statutes, to put them all into effect and to build the palace for which I have made provision.'
5. Contemplatio
Psalm 119:36-37
Bend my heart to your instructions,
not to selfish gain.
Avert my eyes from pointless images,
by your word give me life.
not to selfish gain.
Avert my eyes from pointless images,
by your word give me life.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét