Monday, October 21, 2002
29th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Eph 2:1-10
Gospel:
Lk 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus, "Master, tell
my brother to share with me the family inheritance." He replied,
"My friend, who has appointed me as your judge or your attorney?"
Then Jesus said to the people, "Be on your guard and avoid every
kind of greed, for even though you have many possessions, it is not that
which gives you life."
And Jesus continued with this story, "There was a
rich man and his land had produced a good harvest. He thought: 'What shall
I do? For I am short of room to store my harvest.' So this is what he
planned: 'I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones to store all
this grain, which is my wealth. Then I may say to myself: My friend, you
have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and
enjoy yourself.' But God said to him: 'You fool! This very night your
life will be taken from you; tell me who shall get all you have put aside?'
This is the lot of the one who stores up riches instead of amassing for
God."
Commentary
They probably laughed at that man, so rich. Indeed he fell into ridicule. Once dead, all his riches remained in the new granaries. We guess the mice and his heirs took good care of it. But for him all was useless. He was wrong about wealth. There are many people today who make the same mistake. They think that good dividends come from stocks and business. They have not understood that the authentic benefits are found in a life shared in love and friendship, in peace and reconciliation. That kind of stocks brings in good dividends at the end!