Sunday Readings: Ecclesiastes 1.2; 2.21-23; Colossians 3.1-5,9-11; Luke 12.13-21
“You fool! This night your life will be demanded of you. To whom will all this piled up wealth of yours go?” – Luke 12.20
In Jesus’ parable a man builds bigger granaries for an abundant harvest and keeps the surplus for himself. These blessings in reserve will allow him to relax, eat heartily, drink well, and enjoy life for years to come.
From God’s point of view a surplus harvest is not to provide one person with secure access to food, drink, and merriment in years to come but to benefit all in the present. The rich man gives no parties for friends, no feast for villagers, no supplies for those in need but plans only self-indulgence.
The gospel regards using wealth in one’s own self-interest as foolish, a profoundly un-American perspective. Sunday’s gospel urges us to see ourselves within a web of social relations with those in need rather than alone like the rich fool. Like God wise believers hear the cry of the poor and do their part to empower those left behind or left out to participate in our economic life. For Luke wealth is not a sign of favor but faces the person with a choice to do good or evil.
What wealth do you share with ease? What do you tend to protect? When and how has your giving connected you with others?
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