Ordinary 18

The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019 – Cycle C Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23; Psalm 90; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21

It is said that, “money is the root of all evil” [1 Timothy 6:10].  But that is not true.  Money is not evil rather our attitude toward money can be a root of evil.

So, what is your attitude toward money?  How important is money to you?

This is a nuanced question because our attitudes will be shaped by our past and present.  Did a person grow up in the Depression or were they raised in poverty or relative comfort.  Has a person’s economic situation changed over the years, fallen or risen?  Have we ever experienced need, or not?  Is a family always living on the cusp of financial ruin trying each month to make ends meet?  These are shades of experience that can colour our moral view and choices.  With these shades of experience in mind…

Our attitude toward money is an issue along with communication skills and family of origin that seriously can affect a marriage.  Not that spouses need to agree on whether money is very important or not to each of them but are each honest with themselves about their attitude.  How many spouses have argued over money and spending practices?

How many of our families have experienced issues over inheritance as related in the Book of Ecclesiastes or the Gospel?  Who will inherit the fruit of your years of work?  How many families have been divided, anger seething and grudges held between relatives not speaking to each other for years over issues of inheritance?   I’ve never understood that, since to my mind, an inheritance is a gift.   It is not deserved.  It should not be expected.   To my mind, gratitude should be the response to an inheritance not expectation, quarreling or greed.

Saving money for the future has its place, for retirement, for your children’s college education, to remodel a home, vacation, to assist with the cost of a wedding or our own funeral and burial.  All these concerns for the future are valid. Yet Jesus seems to never be concerned that God will not care for him.  He teaches us: “…seek first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself”.  [Matthew 6: 33-34]

How many of us live our lives in fear of unknown tomorrows rather than the present moment of today?

In regard to material goods and all monetary issues, one of the questions we need to ask ourselves is, “when is enough, enough?”  Isn’t that the issue with the man in the parable?  The man is described as already rich.  His land produces bountiful harvests.   “When is enough, enough?” 

The man’s attitude governs the story of the parable.  His plentiful harvest, instead of being seen as a blessing, is regarded as a dilemma.  His concern over building more storage space shows that he has no intention of either selling or sharing his crops.  His own words are a window into his heart.  All he wants to do is “rest, eat, drink and be merry”.    They are similar to the words of the prophet Isaiah [Isaiah 22:13] which also adds: “for tomorrow we die”.   Death should enliven and energize our lives.  We are going to die each Ash Wednesday reminds us…so what are you going to do with your life?

What is missing from the man’s plans?  Again his words are a window: “What shall I do…I do not have space…I shall tear down…I shall build…I shall store…I shall say to myself…”  When our monies and material possessions are experienced as a product of our own making then there is no need for God or other people because we are our god.  When the result of our work is seen as a blessing, our attitude cannot but include other people because blessings are to be gratefully received and freely shared.

When preparing family and personal budgets, do we pray beforehand?  As I have said previously, budgets are moral documents.  They concretely show us our priorities.  Do we bring God moral perspective in this process or are we fools?  God’s word, not mine.

What place do the poor have in personal, family, parish, city, national budgets?

What attitudes do we teach our children toward money and possessions?   Remembering we teach most clearly by our actions than our words.

How many computer sites have our credit cards numbers stored for easy and fast purchases?  How quickly do we need to purchase an item that advertisers have placed before us?   The Genesis story of Eden is never far away and advertisers know it well.  The fruit was good, pleasing to the eye and desirable.  Did you ever consider advertisers as contemporary serpents?

The father of the two sons is dead and so is the rich man in the parable.  God’s question, at death to whom will our wealth belong, is left hanging in the air.   So is the implied question, what does it mean to be rich in what matters to God?  How do you answer them?