Avoid Greed and Acquire True Riches.
Dear Parishioners,
The first reading from the book Ecclesiastes addresses sadness and emptiness found in a person who placed absolute trust in material possessions and made money his god. The vanity of vanities, he concluded, leads to emptiness. It is like a vapor, steam or smoke, all pointing to futility. In the depth of his loneliness, he sees no hope and joy in working. His labor produces for him a great deal of worry and concern. He knows that he will not take any of his wealth with him to the grave. He knows that others who do not labor with him will inherit his wealth someday. Most of all, he is not generous and lacks that charity that nourishes a soul.
Jesus expands the irony of amassing wealth without sharing the blessings with others. He tells us a parable that illustrates the disease that often afflicts rich and ungenerous people. He started with a story of a man who thinks his brother deprived him out of his rightful family inheritance. He approached Jesus, demanding justice from him. Well, Jesus is not a court or public defender; however, he has become so accessible to all people so that many feel comfortable approaching him with their needs. Jesus refused to get involved in their family squabbles; but referring to their conversation he draws our attention to dangers of greed and avarice.
Jesus calls for conversion of heart. He tells us to avoid greed in all its forms. The two brothers have allowed greed to destroy their relationship. The excessive quest for wealth has led many people into moral darkness, destruction, killing, slavery, exploitation of women and children. Jesus further warns that great evil will fall upon anyone who neglects God and neighbor for the excessive pursuit of wealth.
Another example points to the landowner who had a good harvest and never really cared about giving it back to the community. The Lord says to us that anyone who is only concerned about accumulating wealth for himself is a fool. What will he say when he dies and appears before God. We can see why Ecclesiastes addresses the sadness and emptiness that fill a soul who seeks only his interest and gains.
In a consumer society like ours, how often do we neglect the needs of others? How often are we buried in our own work and interests while our neighbor languishes? The words of Jesus speak to the heart of excessive capitalism. Is Jesus condemning wealth? Not at all. Rather he calls us to a higher purpose. He advocates that material wealth be used for the common good. Wealth is given for the benefit of everyone and not for the possession of a few. It is not a condemnation of those who worked hard or filled responsible positions and used their God given talent wisely. Rather, it is an invitation for them to attain holiness and collaborate with God in doing good works. For the poor and have nots, it is a call to appreciate generosity and to share in blessings made available for humanity.
Jesus invites us to avoid greed and acquire true riches, those things that matter to God. We know that the desire to accumulate more wealth can sometimes suffocate the spirit. The danger is real. And Jesus warns us against it. Do not be caught up with building bigger and better barns when you can offer a helping hand. We cannot risk losing ourselves in this passing world.
St. Paul reminds us of the danger of abandoning ourselves to a world that can only lead us to greed and immorality. He admonishes us to keep our eyes on the “things that are above.”
Blessings To You,
Rev. Vitalis Anyanike
Pastor
