This Sundays gospel is the parable of the rich man who stored up his wealth in barns for A future that he thought would be in his own hands instead the future was in the hands of God. The parable calls the man foolish for his planning and for believing that he was immune to life’s tragedies none of us are. We remember the those who live around us as well as the world at large and who have any annoyance in their lives this weekend. The lesson of this Sundays parable is obvious to all, and it is perhaps as difficult to put into practice as it is obvious. To be in this world and not of it, to collect the necessary goods of this world by honest labor and yet remain detached from them, to possess but not be possessed by worldly riches, this is an ideal to which our weak human nature responds very reluctantly.
A large percentage of Christians, however, do respond to the challenge. They earn and use the goods of this world, while at the same time they keep God’s laws and earn wealth for heaven putting their riches into their spiritual bank. Some renounce even the right, which is theirs, to possess the necessary things of this world, by entering religious life taking on the vows of religion. Thus they set themselves free to devote their whole time and energy to the service of God and neighbor. Others, and they are of necessity the more numerous, have to own the world’s goods in order to provide for themselves and their dependents, but, while so doing they never let their temporal possessions come between them and their God. To do this is not easy, but God’s helping grace is always available to the willing heart. The message of the Jesus is one of hope, and compassion. No one can claim perfection. It is not obedience to laws and regulations, it is not the achievement of great influence or wealth, it is not the power over others that prove our greatness.
The last sentence of the parable is stark and clear: Do not store up treasure for yourself, but seek to be rich in the sight of God. What does this mean? Later it becomes clear: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God… Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” (Lk 12:31-34) As Christian people we know that the values of this world are transitory and that they cannot bring true fulfilment. We place our trust in the things of God and understand that true fulfilment in life consist in embracing the heavenly virtues such as truth, humility, honesty, patience, kindness and so on. The true Christian knows that it is only by cultivating these virtues that we will reach the kingdom of god.
Fullerton T 