And Jesus continued, “There was a rich man, and his land had produced a good harvest.
He thought, ‘What shall I do, for I am short of room to store my harvest? Alright, I know what I shall do:
I will pull down my barns and I will build bigger ones, to store all this grain, which is my wealth.
Then I will say to myself: My friend, you have a lot of good things put by for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you. Tell me, who shall get all you have put aside?’
This is the lot of the one who stores up riches for himself and is not wealthy in the eyes of God.”
REFLECTION:
As the image of Caesar on the Roman coin indicated that the coin belonged to Caesar, so we who bear the divine image belong to God!
But because we are in the world we are easily tempted with the desire to accumulate the “coin of Caesar.” Greed is a dangerous vice.
The interlocutor and the rich fool in today’s parable illustrate the addictive grip of greed.
Thus Jesus takes the occasion to teach his disciples about the danger of being enamored with the “coin of Caesar”.
When worldly treasures are more important than relationships, families can end up mortal enemies as they quarrel over inheritance.
In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus points out that life is not about accumulation of worldly treasures but rather about
becoming “wealthy in the eyes of God.” I remember a very active layman who passed away some time ago.
By worldly standards he had nothing to leave behind his grieving family. But his wake and the funeral that followed revealed
how he truly was “wealthy before God” as people came to pray for him and relate how they remembered his many acts of kindness
and unselfish service for others. His “estate” was not money or property but memories of kindness and service.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020