August 3, 2025: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possession.” Then he 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.”

Reflection

Words from this particular Gospel hit me square between the eyes several times a week. That’s because of a spacious restaurant in my neighborhood that has bold letters on the side of the building which read, “eat, drink and be merry.” It’s a lovely invitation, isn’t it?

And, it’s hard to pass up their Tuesday burger day when a generous and delicious burger with a side of fries is only $5. I’ve enjoyed an occasional Tuesday burger there in the company of Providence Associates with whom I love to rest, eat, drink and be Mary!

None of us in that Providence Circle is wealthy, acting as though we had it all. Nobody would even begin to think about tearing down our barns so we could hoard more by building larger ones. After all, I’m sure you’ve gathered that a $5 scrumptious burger appeals to us … though not as much as the good company we keep with one another!

We are rich in our friendships and relationships with each other. Truly, there is no hoarding and no rivalry among us about our inheritance. We belong to each other for we, and all God’s creatures, are connected.

However, most of us live in a society filled with consumerism and misguided endeavors to accumulate beyond what is necessary to live a good life. Indeed, this Gospel message is then meant for every one of us today — for our families, our churches, our governments, our places of business.

As nations, organizations, families, we are meant to build bigger, wider, deeper relationships that are rich in what matters to God. We come to recognize how important it is to “Take care to guard against all greed, though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Let’s pray and work together to build bigger hearts that are far reaching, excluding none. Let us both support and challenge one another to ask for the grace to expand small mindedness into critical thinking and Godly action. We are richly blessed when we give drink to the thirsty, assist others so that they might eat and rest, alleviate some grief and sadness. Our hearts are filled to the brim.

May the words of today’s Gospel hit us square between the eyes! May we be bold enough to make room at the table for every one of our brothers and sisters. Then, perhaps, and only then, can we freely “rest, eat, drink and be merry.”

Action

Give thanks for “burgers” and relationships that richly bless your life! Make a deliberate choice to invite someone to your table for food and company. Perhaps, a sibling with whom you will be sharing your inheritance!

Pull a chair up to a table at — parish council, your business, your local or state government — and speak to how you might work together so others might “rest, eat, drink and be merry.”