18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23
Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
Col 3:1-5, 9-11
Lk 12:13-21

A favorite contemporary singer-songwriter of mine is Greg Brown. His blues and folk tunes tell down-to-earth stories. In one of his songs, entitled "The Cheapest Kind," Brown sings a first-person account of a man who grew up as the son of a preacher. The family was poor, and they traveled about the country preaching the Good News. Their poverty led the parents to reluctantly settle for always buying the "cheapest kind" of food or clothing. But Brown sings that the love in that family wasn't cheap: It was, rather, what made them truly rich.

His song comes to mind as I reflect on today's Gospel. Jesus invites us to ponder what are the true riches in human life. In the story Jesus tells, the man whose barn is bursting with an abundant harvest, plans on building bigger barns. He believes he's totally self-sufficient with all that stored-up wealth.

Jesus teaches that those who rely solely on material goods, and allow them to control their existence to the point of greed and possessiveness are storing up treasures that will not last. It's being "rich in what matters to God" that is true wealth in the Kingdom. Examine your heart this Sunday. Have you focused on material goods, treasures that will not last? Or have you allowed God to fill you with love—with wealth of the "richest kind?"

Scripture:

•All his days sorrow and grief are their occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2:23)

•Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. (Psalm 90:12)

•For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:3)

•“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions.” … ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ (Luke 12:15,20)

Reflection:

•Give some examples of vanity described in Ecclesiastes 2:23.

•What is wisdom of the heart? How do you count your days?

•How do you die and hide your life in Christ?

•Describe 21st-century greed. Give examples.

Wherever the soul of man turns, unless it turns to you it clasps sorrow to its heart. Even if it clings to what is lovely, if this loveliness is outside of God, it has clung to sorrow, for these beautiful things would not exist without you. Like the sun, they rise and they set: they have their beginning and then they grow old and die.

Let me praise you for these things, my God who made them all, but do not let the love of them to be like glue to fix them to my soul.

In these things there is nowhere to rest, because they do not last, they pass away from the reach of our senses. Indeed we cannot lay firm hold on them even when they are with us.

In this world one thing passes away, and another takes its place. But does the Word of God pass away? Make your dwelling in him. Entrust to him whatever you have, for all you possess is from him. In him is the peace that cannot be disturbed and he will not withhold himself your love if you do not withhold your love from him. (St Augustine)