July 31, 2016: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Photo: Volunteer Jerry Hixson, the toy tester, checks out a mechanical rooster to make sure it works at The Helping Hands)

Jesus told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

Reflection:

With this story Jesus reminds us to consider carefully which of the world’s many offerings are rich in the eyes of God. Those are the ones we should pursue. What the man in the story missed was sharing the treasures and gifts God had given him.
Years ago, on vacation, I stopped to visit an abandoned mine. I brought with me my powerful roadside emergency light. An eleven year old boy holding a rock pick-hammer and wearing his dad’s construction hat asked me to be his mining partner. My share of the rock specimens we collected adorned my desk for years.
Many years later, that one afternoon is the only part of that vacation week that I even remember!
Had he not shared his hammer, or had I not shared my light, there would have been no stones or exciting memories. In choosing not to share his treasures, the man in the parable lost the chance to participate in one of life’s greatest experiences – shared joy at living within God’s peace and love.

Action:

Listen to or read the lyrics to the Bette Midler song “From a Distance.” Think about the line: “From a distance we all have enough, and no one is in need.” Today, find one person and one situation where, with sharing, the two of you can make that line true.