Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time—Year C

Lectio

    Luke 12:13–21

Meditatio

“… life does not consist of possessions.”

    The story in Luke sounds all too familiar—relatives fighting over an inheritance. Sometimes it seems as if claimants think the money is owed to them. “I want what is coming to me.” Jesus calls it what it is: greed. Possessions are what we have, not who we are. In fact, even the poor can be greedy. Jesus reminds us that “life does not consist of possessions.” To illustrate his point he tells a story. A rich farmer (note the man is already rich) has a wonderful year with an abundant harvest. His only problem is where to store it. His solution: build a larger facility. “I’ll tear down the old buildings and put up bigger, better ones, and then I’ll take it easy.”

    Greed, injustice to workers, neglect of land, wasting one’s own productive years in laziness or by the idleness of an early and unproductive retirement—all of these are reflected in what the rich man plans to do, without realizing that his last moment is coming. “Your life will be required of you this very night.” The end is coming suddenly, so he can’t fudge intentions. He is caught in his greed and laziness. When there is no concern for others, the judgment will always come as a surprise. It is always so for those “who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.” Jesus already said that God isn’t concerned with what we possess, and that we can’t take any of it with us to the Great Accounting. All we can take is who we are. That is what matters to God. What riches, then, is he looking for? God values one who is rich in love of God and concern for others. These unseen treasures are our only inheritance. This is what Jesus meant when he said that the poor in spirit are blessed (see Mt 5:3).

Oratio

    Jesus, Lord of all, you chose to give us a living example of the beauty and value of poverty, that true poverty of the spirit. Not only were you divested of the very glory and grandeur of your heavenly home, but you were born a poor, homeless child placed by your loving parents in an animals’ feeding trough. You were chased and harassed throughout your early years. For announcing the Good News, healing, and praying, your own people rewarded you with the death of a dispossessed criminal. Accept my humble gift of a heart bent on imitating your total self-gift, a spirit poor but blessed. Amen.

Contemplatio

    “Take care to guard against all greed.”

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ORDINARY GRACE Weeks 18–34: Daily Gospel Reflections (By the Daughters of St. Paul)