21 October 2024
Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 12:13-21
Count your blessings!
Greed is often a cause of fear. We tend to cling tightly to what we are afraid of losing. And naturally, the more we possess, the more we have to lose. We convince ourselves that the more we can accumulate, the larger our storage facilities and the safer we will be. However, as the parable reminds us, this is simply not true.
Greed is fuelled by a sense of emptiness that can never be satisfied by money or possessions. Ironically, greed can be cured not by acquiring but by giving; by surrendering. According to Richard Rohr, surrender is not about giving up but about giving to. It’s about giving ourselves fully to the present moment, the situation, the person in front of us, and God.
The farmer in the parable gained an empire, but his greed caused him to forfeit both his soul and his empire. The man dealing with inheritance problems, driven by the desire to claim what he believed was rightfully his, was also at risk of being overtaken by envy, potentially losing sight of the wealth he already had and risking his relationship with his brother. When the pursuit of money becomes the driving force in our lives, when the desire for possessions starts to dominate us, our souls become increasingly impoverished in the eyes of God.
Contemplating the message of the Gospel presents a significant challenge. I have found it difficult to admit how greedy I am. Instead of defending or judging myself, the most effective way to conquer greed is to acknowledge the plenty that I already have. I need to consciously practice thankfulness and remind myself that as long as I have breath, shelter, food, water, love, security, and as long as I have God in my life, I am genuinely rich. This is sufficient—I am sufficient.
© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2024
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