The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to work guided by faith and the Spirit rather than for self aggrandizement and material excess.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans continues to examine Abraham and how inheritance through Faith was “reckoned to him.”
* [4:20] He did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief: any doubts Abraham might have had were resolved in commitment to God’s promise. Heb 11:8–12 emphasizes the faith of Abraham and Sarah. (Romans, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Canticle of Zechariah praises that God raised up a mighty saviour for us.
* [1:68–79] Like the canticle of Mary (Lk 1:46–55) the canticle of Zechariah is only loosely connected with its context. Apart from Lk 1:76–77, the hymn in speaking of a horn for our salvation (Lk 1:69) and the daybreak from on high (Lk 1:78) applies more closely to Jesus and his work than to John. Again like Mary’s canticle, it is largely composed of phrases taken from the Greek Old Testament and may have been a Jewish Christian hymn of praise that Luke adapted to fit the present context by inserting Lk 1:76–77 to give Zechariah’s reply to the question asked in Lk 1:66.
* [1:69] A horn for our salvation: the horn is a common Old Testament figure for strength (Ps 18:3; 75:5–6; 89:18; 112:9; 148:14). This description is applied to God in Ps 18:3 and is here transferred to Jesus. The connection of the phrase with the house of David gives the title messianic overtones and may indicate an allusion to a phrase in Hannah’s song of praise (1 Sm 2:10), “the horn of his anointed.” (Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches the Parable of the Rich Fool.
* [12:13–34] Luke has joined together sayings contrasting those whose focus and trust in life is on material possessions, symbolized here by the rich fool of the parable (Lk 12:16–21), with those who recognize their complete dependence on God (Lk 12:21), those whose radical detachment from material possessions symbolizes their heavenly treasure (Lk 12:33–34).
* [12:21] Rich in what matters to God: literally, “rich for God.” (Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Julie Kalkowski comments that the man in the Gospel focuses solely on himself and does not spare a thought for the many who were hungry and in need of his abundant harvest.
It reminded me of a conversation I had with a man who had ‘made it’. He was disgusted with me as he thought I had squandered my talent as a salesperson. He told me I could have made an incredible amount of money as a salesperson instead of working with people on the margins. Out of curiosity, I asked him what I was supposed to tell God when my number was up. While that question abruptly ended our conversation, it is a question that has stayed with me.
Over the past year, I have been trying to learn how to meditate. While reading a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, he wrote about a saying that is posted on many meditation centers around the world. The last line is “Do not squander your life.”
For me, today’s gospel is a wakeup call “not to squander my life” on what is important to this world. Rather I will strive to be “rich in what matters to God.” During this milestone year, I am going to ponder if I am being a good steward with the gifts I have been given. And hopefully I won’t have to be nudged so much to do so! (Kalkowski, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Surrounded by wealth, blind to charity,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"'What does the rich man do, surrounded by a great supply of many blessings beyond all numbering? In distress and anxiety, he speaks the words of poverty. He says, 'What should I do?' ... He does not look to the future. He does not raise his eyes to God. He does not count it worth his while to gain for the mind those treasures that are above in heaven. He does not cherish love for the poor or desire the esteem it gains. He does not sympathize with suffering. It gives him no pain nor awakens his pity. Still more irrational, he settles for himself the length of his life, as if he would also reap this from the ground. He says, 'I will say to myself, "Self, you have goods laid up for many years. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself." 'O rich man,' one may say, "You have storehouses for your fruits, but where will you receive your many years? By the decree of God, your life is shortened." 'God,' it tells us, 'said to him, "You fool, this night they will require of you your soul. Whose will these things be that you have prepared?" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 89) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 4:20-25 comments that our faith starts with God, who planted the seed of faith in us at our Baptism. Just as he did for Abraham, God has made promises to us and to all who believe in him. He tells us that he will give us peace (John 14:27), that he will give us eternal life (6:54), and that he will give us the Holy Spirit (14:16-17). These promises are like water to our seed of faith. With each step of trust in God and obedience to his word, we will begin to see those promises fulfilled. And that will empower us and make our faith grow and deepen.
So today, be like Abraham. Let God’s gift of faith grow in you as you say yes to him. You can trust that he will give you the faith you need to do what he is asking—and bless you with even greater faith!
“Lord God, thank you for the gift of faith.” (Meditation on Romans 4:20-25, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes how the faith of Abraham nudges us to trust and know peace with God as we work out our faith in daily action. In the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus deals with greed that may separate us from God. Friar Jude notes the divisions that may occur in families over inheritance.
James Finley points to the guidance Mechthild of Magdeburg offers to people in relationship with God. He describes how we might connect with Mechthild’s emphasis on love.
God says to her that he’s so freely chosen to be so hopelessly in love with her, that he quite honestly doesn’t know if he could handle being God without her. And she says back to God, “Take me home with you. I’ll be your physician forever!” [1] The power of these words is that, as we’re reading them, we know they are true of us. We know that God has freely chosen to be so hopelessly in love with us, and that God doesn’t know if God can handle being God without us in our brokenness…. It circulates back around, and we give back to God the gift that God longs for, which is us!…
To sit with Mechthild and to read her is to be taken by the beauty of what she says. It is to sit in silence and ask God to deepen our capacity to realize how the love of which she speaks is already unfolding within us, and how to be faithful to that, and to carry it through the day. (Finley, 2023)
We are grateful for the experience of faith that brings us the peace with God and communion with the Spirit to direct our works to surrender to the Will of God.
References
Finley, J. (2023, October 23). God Is Hopelessly in Love — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/god-is-hopelessly-in-love/
Kalkowski, J. (2023, October 23). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/102323.html
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?13
Luke, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?
Meditation on Romans 4:20-25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/10/23/812400/
Romans, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/4?20
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=oct23
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