July
31, 2016
18th
Sunday in OT
Ecclesiastes
1:2; 2:21-23; Psalm 95; Colossians 3:1-5. 9-11; Luke 12:13-21
I remember a
story about a man who wanted to get rich. He said: “I wish I could see the lotto
winning numbers ahead of the draw and become the richest man in the world.”
This man got his wish. The following day, he saw at his door a newspaper dated
one week ahead. The man was excited as he turned to the page where the winning
numbers were listed. He was already imagining what he would do with the multi-million
money. But as he turned the pages, his heart skipped a beat. For there he saw his name printed in big,
bold letters – in the obituary! On the
day he was going to win all those millions, he was also going to die. The point
of the story is similar to the gospel parable about the rich fool. Why did
Jesus call this rich man a fool? What kind of wealth must one pursue to be rich
in the eyes of God?
Let
us reflect on this in three points:
ASPIRING
ONLY FOR MATERIAL WEALTH MADE THE RICH MAN A FOOL. Why?
Because our first reading tells us that when you aspire only for material
wealth, everything is vain. Everything is empty. Everything is pointless.
Imagine, all your life is devoted to work and because of perseverance, you earn something and
become rich. But when your life on earth is ended, all your wealth and riches
will be given to someone else who did not work to gain it. It will be given to someone
who did not even lift a finger to earn it. Isn’t that pointless? You work and in
the end, you do not enjoy the fruits of your labor. Is this true and meaningful wealth?
Wealth that you do not enjoy?
That is why
Jesus challenged the rich man in the gospel: Why are you
interested in material wealth? It cannot guarantee your life. Wealth
cannot buy an extension of your life. Maybe just a few days or weeks extension due
to medicines and procedures that you are able to pay. But in the end, we will all die.
And when we die, we cannot bring in the next life even a single centavo. So what must
we do to avoid the mistake of pursuing only for material wealth?
ASPIRE
FOR HEAVENLY THINGS. Paul says in the second reading: “Think of
what is above, not of what is on earth.” Paul enumerates the false
riches and wealth. What are those?
Fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, lust, adultery. These are the
things that we should not work for. Many people become materially rich by doing
these things. But is this true wealth? Paul says we should work for things of
God. What does this mean? Paul is not telling us to stop our work and escape
from doing our profession. No. Paul rather says that while we are pursuing
these earthly matters, while we are pursuing our decent work here on earth, we
should also pursue heavenly matters. We should pursue things that matters to
God: pursue love, honesty, forgiveness, mercy, compassion and obedience to the
Lord’s commandments. These are the heavenly things that matter to God. What will
happen to us when we pursue heavenly things?
ASPIRING
FOR HEAVENLY THINGS WILL MAKE US RICH IN THE EYES OF GOD. Perhaps
you have already encountered agents selling pension plans that will
ensure you financial security in the future. Yes, they may be helpful.
But remember, let us not commit the mistake of the rich man who aspired only for
material wealth. If
we want real security in the future, then we must look beyond the material
world. We
must put our security not on material things but on God.
There’s a story
about a rich matron who died and went to heaven. St. Peter escorted her to a
place in heaven that is full of mansions. The rich lady saw one house that was exceptionally
beautiful and asked who lived there. “You will be surprised,” said St.
Peter. “That is the home of your household help.” “Well,” the lady said smiling, “if
my helper gets a place like that, I certainly look forward to having a more grandiose
mansion.” Soon they came to a small alley where there are small houses. St. Peter
stopped and said, “Lady, you will live in that hut.” “Me, live in that small house? This
is an insult.” St. Peter explained to the woman, “You must understand that we only build
your home up here with the material you send ahead while you’re still on earth.”
The materials we are supposed to send ahead are obviously not cement, sand and
gravel. The materials are our good works, our acts of kindness and piety. We
must also invest to become rich in the eyes of God. This is real wealth that we
can bring to the next life.
