Meditation: Luke 12:13-21 “One’s life does not consist of possessions. (Luke 12:15)” The rich fool learns to his dismay that there is more to life than what he has, or what he plans to do (build a barn, have a party). God demands a reckoning for the kind of person he has become, not for the things he has amassed. Early in our Christian journey, we learn to look beyond possessions. We realize God is not impressed with the wealth we accumulate or the house we occupy. We try to root out greed and practice contentment. We make a special effort at being thankful for God’s good gifts. But despite all this, we can still be tempted to think that what really matters is what we do. We make sure to attend church regularly, to obey the Ten Commandments, to watch our language, and to give to charities. Of course, we should do all of these, but we run the risk of turning them into ends in themselves. We run the risk of proving ourselves on the basis of what we are able to do. The heart of being a Christian is who we are, not what we have or what we do. We become precious and valuable to God the moment we are conceived, and we remain his beloved even in our old age, when we are once more totally dependent on other people. This kind of logic—the logic of divine love—is the basis of the Church’s teachings on life issues. In a society that determines a person’s value based on what he or she can produce, we proclaim that value comes from love, not productivity. In a world that looks upon the elderly, the disabled, and the unwanted as problems to be solved, we proclaim them as gifts to be treasured and protected. The rich fool in today’s parable made a tragic miscalculation. May we, through our words and through our witness, help turn the tide for other people. May we create a world where every life is valued! “Father, thank you your unconditional love. Let everything I do express that love.” Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion 1. In spite of the negative tone in the first reading from Ecclesiastes, there is still an important message the Lord wants to convey to us in how we should live out our daily lives. How would you characterize this message? 2. The responsorial psalm, like the first reading, also appears to speak negatively of our earthly life. Yet, once again, the author has an important lesson he wants us to learn from the seemingly insignificance of our life when compared to the Lord’s “gracious care.” What do you think that lesson is? How does it relate to your life as a Christian? 3. In the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul says that we have been “raised with Christ,” but he also says that we have “died and our life is hidden with Christ.” What does St. Paul say should be happening in our daily lives as a result of being raised with Christ and as a result of having died in Christ? What steps can you take to make these a greater reality in your life? 4. The Gospel reading ends with the following verse after Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God” (Luke 12:21). How does your earthly bank account compare to your heavenly one? What are some of the things you can do as Christians that can increase your heavenly riches – not only individually but also with others? 5. In the meditation, we hear these words: “The heart of being a Christian is who we are, not what we have or what we do. We become precious and valuable to God the moment we are conceived, and we remain his beloved even in our old age, when we are once more totally dependent on other people.” Do you agree or disagree with these words? Why? If you agree, what difference does knowing you are “precious and valuable to God” and “his beloved” make in how you live it out your Christian life? What steps can you take to make this a greater reality in your life? 6. Take some time now to pray and ask your heavenly Father for the grace to know more deeply his unconditional love and for the grace to live out this reality as a new creation in Christ. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point. Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23 Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17 Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 14:13:46 +0000
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