XVIII Sunday in OT[C]: Eccl.1:2;2:21-23; Col.3:1-5,9-11;Lk 12:13-21

XVIII Sunday in OT[C]: Eccl.1:2;2:21-23; Col.3:1-5,9-11;Lk 12:13-21

Introduction:  The readings today warn us not to place our trust in material things but instead to focus on the things of the spirit.  The meaning of life cannot be found in selfishly hoarding wealth and possessions, but only in sharing these with the needy.

Exegesis: One of the most fundamental beliefs of any Christian is that God created the world and all it contains. All material things are created and therefore depend for their existence on God. God is a spiritual being who exists quite outside the created order and holds everything that is in being.  That sounds like heavy theology but it is very important and provides us with a crucial understanding about the true place of material things in our life.

Another most important doctrine is that of Divine Providence, that if we place our whole trust in God and seek to do his will above all other things he will provide for our needs. This is much more difficult for us. But it is the road the great saints trod.

Simile: I recently saw a documentary about ancient Egypt. The Pharaohs thought they ‘could’ take it with them, and so they were buried with all their greatest treasures locked with them in the pyramids.  The lesson was driven home to me when you watched the archeologists and museum directors marching off with all those treasures while the bodies lay cold in their coffins. You really can’t take it with you.

Joke: An old lady was on a flight.  She was sitting beside a rich, young businessman. After the in-flight meal she took out her Holy Bible and started her devotions. The businessman glanced at her and said,   "Do you really believe all that stuff in the Bible is true?

"Well, yes, as a matter of fact I do," said the old lady.

"Yeah, right..." the man scoffed, "like... what's that guy's name... the one who got swallowed by a whale..."

"You mean Jonah?"

"Yeah, Jonah.  Do you actually believe he survived for three days in the belly of a fish?"

"I don't know," replied the old lady, "but I can ask him when I see him in heaven someday."

Feeling smart, the young man said: "OK, but what if he is not in heaven because he went to hell?"

"Then you can ask him yourself when you get there, “replied the old lady calmly.

Exegesis-Providence: We can place our trust in God and lean on Him in countless small ways. And perhaps as we go through life we will grow in our understanding of just how caring and loving God is towards us. We will grow in our trust and dependence on the extraordinary Providence of God.

Exegesis-Sharing:  The problem with material things is that we feel that they give us security. We want to live in a decent house, we want a pension for our old age, we want to provide for our children so that they can get through university without too much debt, we want a good standard of living, and so on.

When we begin to acquire these things the natural tendency is to want more and more and that’s the danger point. We begin to see material things as an end in themselves. That is the moment when the Christian needs to see all these things in their true light; to see that they are gifts from God and not the result of our own efforts.

Our material possessions come with responsibilities attached. And the responsibility we have is to share with those who do not have the same advantages as ourselves. But the greatest responsibility is that we must not enjoy our wealth at their expense.

Life Messages:  1) The parable of the rich fool gives us a warning as well as an invitation. It reminds us that our possessions are merely loaned to us by God, and that we are accountable for their use.  We must be generous in sharing our time, our treasure, and our talents, the three elements of Christian stewardship.  Every one of us is rich in one thing or another.  The parable instructs us to share these gifts.

2) Our greed takes different shapes and forms. For some it may be the desire for the approval and praise of others.  For others it is the uncontrolled desire for power, control or fame.  For a few others it takes the form of desire for excessive and sinful indulgence in eating, drinking, gambling, drugs or sexual activities.  Greed also diverts our life away from God, away from serving and loving other people. As greed directs all our energy and attention to fulfilling the self, its objects become our false gods, and they will consume us unless we become rich in the sight of God.

Introduction: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: Listen carefully to the voice of the Lord; set your heart on what will last forever.  We only fool ourselves if we believe that our possessions will bring us happiness and life.  Instead, “grow rich in the sight of the Lord”.

Saints and Events in this Week:  Sixth-Tuesday-The Transfiguration of the Lord; Seventh-Wednesday-Saint Sixtus II, Pope and companions, martyrs; Saint Cajetan, priest; Eighth-Thursday-Saint Dominic, priest; Ninth-Friday-Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin, martyr; Tenth-Saturday-Saint Lawrence, Deacon, martyr.