Storing Up Treasures

In today’s Gospel we hear of the parable of a rich fool. In the parable this man has stored up all of his wealth and food only to find out that on the night that he has stored up everything to be kept safe and to last, his own life will be demanded of him and he will not enjoy any of the things he had saved up. This man is a fool not because of the possessions he had, but because of the relationship he had with his possessions. He focused so much on making sure that they would be safe and that he could enjoy them that when the time came for him to leave, the only thing he had to show for his life were the possessions he was leaving behind. His relationship that he had with his possessions was not a healthy one. Jesus uses this parable to teach the people about how to have healthy relationships. So many times in the Gospel we see parables and pericopes about the wealthy and those who horde up material possessions, and it is not a condemnation on wealth itself, it is our relationship to the wealth. If all the wealth you had were to go away, how would you react? What would you do? Thinking about your own material possessions, what is your relationship towards them? Are they everything to you, can you never part with them? Have they become your God? Jesus is wanting to dig deeper into the theology of what our relationships are with the materials of this world. Though it is good to have things, what is better is to understand that they are just things and that our goal is to love one another and to build up the kingdom of God. A kingdom in which there is no place for such idolatry of material things.

Reflection: What is my relationship with the things that I have?

Lord God, thank you for today and everyday. Thank you for your love and mercy. Send forth your Spirit Lord that through today I might better understand that you are my all and all. Allow my heart to be opened to you Lord, that I may worship you and only you. I pray, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

Resource: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102218.cfm