18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

1st Reading        Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23

Psalm                   90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17 (R. 1)

R:// "O Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation"

2nd Reading      Colossians 3: 1-5, 9-11

Gospel                 Luke 12: 13-21

THE PITFALLS OF MATERIALISM

Friends, Peace and Goodness! Today is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). It is also the first Sunday of the month of August, the 8th month of the year. Mathematically, the number 8 is 4 multiplied by 2, and the number 4 is the number of the earth for which we have East, West, North, and South. What it means is that, by arriving in the 8th month, we have gone around the earth twice. The number 8 is also 1 above 7, the number of perfection. In this month, we pray that the Lord himself will perfect in us Graces necessary to walk through this earth. Finally, the month of August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Mother always intercede for us. 

Let us now look at the readings for today. The Gospel is from Luke 12: 13-21. While we are staying within the Gospel according to Luke, the first reading takes a different book, Ecclesiastes (or Qoheleth). Qoheleth is the Hebrew name for the book. That name is derived from the Hebrew word "qahal", which means an "assembly". Precisely, this refers to a worshipping community. What the author seeks to do is to address an assembly or a congregation, especially a worshipping community. The Greek rendition of "qahal" is "ekklesia", for which we have "Ecclesiastes". "Ekklesia" means "Church". This buttresses the point that we ought to see the mind of the author from the point of view of a worshipping community. 

The central theme in today's first reading from Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23, and the Gospel is the address of the question of WEALTH. 

The Gospel is divided into two but related parts. The first part concerns Jesus' response to a man over inheritance. Thus, "Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance" (Lk. 12:13). The second part is the parable of the Rich Man which is found only in the Gospel according to Luke. In the first part, Jesus says, "Take care to guard against all GREED ..." (Lk. 12:15). What should we make of this statement? The Greek word translated as GREED is "pleonexia" (πλεονεξία). It is the same word translated as GREED in the 2nd Reading from Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11. What fascinates is that Paul refers to GREED as a form of idolatry (Col. 3:5). Simply, idolatry is not only worshipping of a false god but specifically entails ranking God lower to any other thing. Whatever one puts his or her time and interest in as to replace God as the first on his or her list is an idol. 

What is the extent of heeding this idol? That lies in the Greek word "pleonexia". This word is derived from two other words, "pleo" which means "more" or "greater", and "echo" which means "to have". The issue is not in the "having" because to have in itself is not a problem. The issue lies in the energy exerted in the act of having. Therefore, having more than necessary as to focus on working to have more is the problem. It is not things we have that are the problems, but the attitude towards them. This is inordinate. 

If we are situating our thoughts on the readings today within the context of a worshipping community, then we should get to understand that on the first level, it is possible to find some members of a worshipping community who explicitly show to owe allegiance to God. However, God is not actually the first on the list for them. They wish to have more of something else other than God. That is a danger to guard against. You can be part of a Church, yet owe allegiance to something that ought not to be first on the list of priorities. Those other things can becomes gods. 

The second detail we can focus on is that in the second part of the Gospel, which is the parable of the Rich Man, the Rich Man appears to be saying "my" and "I". Everything is centred on him as a person — from decision making to the soul. There is a consistent preoccupation with the self. There is always the use of the first person pronouns "I" and "my". The issue is that he never thought about using his wealth to assist those struggling. The danger is that amidst the riches we enjoy, we can create ourselves as "gods". It is not only the external things but the excessive focus on the self degenerates into the creation of a god. That is also GREED, idolatry. In the presence of God, it is easy to focus on the self without seeking to pray for the intentions of others, even at their request. The riches and graces we have are blessings from God. However, our reaction to these riches or wealth tells a different tale. You can create a god out of those riches and out of the self who enjoys them. 

The third point is the nature of the things we create as gods. This is inspired by the first reading. The author starts by saying, "Vanity of vanities, Qoheleth says. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity!" (Eccl. 1:2). The author in today's short passage mentions "vanity" seven times. What is actually "Vanity"? The Hebrew word is "hevel" (הֶבֶל). Interestingly, the literal meaning of that Hebrew word is "breath" or "vapour". The author says, all is "Hevel Hevelim", thus, all is a breath of breaths. This is the expression for merest breath or just breath. The nature of breath is that it passes quickly and it is invisible. What it means is that the wealth we have, although they are blessings from God, pass quickly, and no one realizes when they came and when they went away. In fact, no one pays attention to the wealth you have. What we pay attention to is the way you use it, thus your attitude towards them.

What should be our attitude towards wealth now that we know it is nothing but "Hevel"? I suggest that we see ourselves as STEWARDS rather than OWNERS of wealth. Whatever wealth, riches, or graces we have is for the sake and benefit of others. If you focus on the riches themselves, you end up creating a false god. Also, if you focus excessively on the satisfaction of the self without due regard for others, you also create a false god. See yourself as a Steward of God's Graces. 

Pax et Bonum