This Gospel sets us pondering about what is important in our lives. The man in the incident Luke describes holds a world view that is fairly exclusive, doesn’t he? It’s just him and HIS things. Now he’s shocked to learn that he is about to lose his life. What good are his possessions going to be to him now? Jesus makes his opinion quite plain. “You fool! This very night your life will be taken away. To whom will everything belong then?!”
Surprise! Jesus refuses to take the case. Instead, Jesus gives the squabbling brothers a parable to “mull over”. And, what’s the point of Jesus’ story? It’s not even remotely related to the problem that the two brothers are having. It features a wealthy landowner that doesn’t describe either of the siblings. Then Jesus lumps the boys in the same pot as the landowner. He calls than all “fools”.
Better take fair warning! There is danger in thinking this parable applies only to “those rich people.” To put the matter more pointedly, thinking of those rich fools enables me NOT to think of myself as a “rich fool.”
In this little parable Jesus probes our hearts. “Where is your treasure?” he asks. Don’t make the mistake that this farmer made. Examine my story. The farmer wasn’t wicked. He didn’t gain his wealth illegally or by taking advantage of others. He’s not particularly greedy. So, what’s wrong with building larger barns, renting a storage unit to store away some of today’s bounty for a leaner tomorrow? This kind of thinking can lead us to ask: Is there anything wrong with hanging on to clothing we’ve outgrown but might wear again someday? Or stockpiling furniture that serves only as a “catch all” because it’s just too nice to give away? What’s wrong with requesting more allowance than we actually need saying it’s so we can do charity? But somehow, we never find a charity other than our own pockets. What’s the matter with setting up a little enterprise to supplement our allowance? Why can’t we accept or ask for money gifts or gift cards from personal friends giving them the impression that our community does not take care of our needs?
Notice what the farmer’s consistent focus is. “What should I do? I have no place to store my crops.” “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.” It’s his relentless use of “I” and “my” that betray a preoccupation with self. He’s fallen prey to worshiping the most popular of gods: the Unholy Trinity of “me, myself, and I.” He gives no thought to using the abundance to help others. This most likely is what leads to a second mistake: foolishness in thinking that making provision for the future; will secure one’s future.
Jesus used the opportunity as a “teachable moment.” Life, he impresses upon us, does not consist in things; not even in having MANY things. The farmer in the parable is a rich man, who fears he is not rich enough. Jesus didn’t judge him; He did teach. He was teaching all of us how to live. After all: “Teaching is not what Jesus did; it’s who he was.”
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5,9-11Gospel: Luke12:13-21
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