The Gospel 0f Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, `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. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Let us Pray: Father, grant us wisdom to discern what truly matters. In a world that prizes wealth and status, help us to seek Your kingdom first. May we not measure our worth by what we own, but by how weI love. Fill us with humility, and guide us to live with purpose, rooted in Your truth. Amen.
Another Gospel for today’s world.
In today’s world it seems that riches are the driving force for what many people do. Siblings fight over inheritances. Look at our politicians, they pass laws that benefit them and their rich associates. It is not just in the political world where there is greed, it can be found in many churches and businesses.
Greed vs. Generosity: Jesus warns, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist of an abundance of possessions.” Today the rich man’s focus is entirely on storing up wealth for themselves, with no thought of others or of God. The rich man’s error in this parable wasn’t his success, it was his self-centeredness and failure to recognize the source of his blessings. He spoke only to himself, planned only for himself, and died alone with his wealth. His barns were full, but his soul was empty. Wealth does not guarantee a long carefree life, As in this parable we see that your life can be demanded at any time. All you have collected is meaningless, as you can’t take it with you. So, as you see Jesus was careful how he addressed the dispute between the brothers. By telling this parable Jesus tried to make it clear that wealth was not the answer to a long and easy life. Jesus cautions individuals to remain vigilant against all forms of greed, emphasizing that life is not defined by material abundance.
In today’s world, we are enticed on every front to accumulate wealth, possessions and status, but today Jesus reminds us that when we die, our wealth, our possessions, and our status will not matter. The only criterion we will be judged on is whether we have worked to accumulate the riches only God can give. Today may be a good day to ask ourselves: Who and what is most important in my life? Is it money, status, possessions, esteem? Or is it the people that I love or the many individuals who are in need? Do I strive to make a difference in our world by my love, care, and generosity? Do I freely share the many gifts that God has given me?
Let us Pray: Lord, You have blessed us with much, yet we confess we often cling too tightly to what we own. Free use from the illusion that security lies in wealth or accumulation. Teach us to hold loosely what is temporary and to treasure what is eternal. May we store up riches in Your kingdom—acts of mercy, love, and generosity—rather than barns filled with grain. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 