Monday of 29th Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: A man’s life does not depend on the abundance of his possessions; beware of greed.

Reading: Lk 12:13–21

Jesus began His conversation with the young man that approached Him in today’s gospel by urging everyone to avoid greed in all its forms, because greed takes our life’s focus away from God and away from serving and loving other people. It then directs all our energy and attention to fulfilling the self, making our wealth the basis of our security. Greed makes people to always think that their lives depend on their wealth, and as such, it pushes them to excessively desire to acquire more wealth than they need or deserve, using any means at their disposal, even the wrong ones.

Wealth is good and can help in life, but wealth alone cannot secure or save life because life belongs to God, and He alone gives and takes it when He wills. Therefore, we are urged to always remember God when we are acquiring our wealth, so that we will do it in the right way; when we have acquired our wealth, so that we can give thanks to Him for giving us life and opportunities; and when we use our wealth, so that we will realize that He wants us to use them to make positive impacts on others.

The man in today’s parable neither had a place for God nor for other people in the midst of His wealth. He is a typical image of a greedy and selfish man. Just take a look at what he said to himself that he would do after his plentiful harvest. It was all about him; there was no place for God and fellow humans. His consistent use of the first person pronoun while planning what to do with his wealth gives a clue that he saw his life as dependent on his riches; he evicted God and fellow humans from his heart because of his wealth.

With the abundant harvest, the rich fool felt he had secured his life. Many people do feel this way whenever they see themselves surrounded by riches. Unfortunately, it was that same night that God took his life.

Dear friends, wealth is good. But no one should forget God while acquiring his wealth and while planning to enjoy it. Remembering God will make us realize that life belongs to Him, that we should be grateful to him, and that we should also use our wealth to serve others.

May you have a blessed new week, Amen.

Fr. Isaac C. Chima.