The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live with the generosity we experience from God as we share our talents as disciples of Christ.
The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians proclaims the path from Death to Life in the Generosity of God’s Plan.
* [2:1–10] The recipients of Paul’s letter have experienced, in their redemption from transgressions and sins, the effect of Christ’s supremacy over the power of the devil (Eph 2:1–2; cf. Eph 6:11–12), who rules not from the netherworld but from the air between God in heaven and human beings on earth. Both Jew and Gentile have experienced, through Christ, God’s free gift of salvation that already marks them for a future heavenly destiny (Eph 2:3–7). The language dead, raised us up, and seated us…in the heavens closely parallels Jesus’ own passion and Easter experience. The terms in Eph 2:8–9 describe salvation in the way Paul elsewhere speaks of justification: by grace, through faith, the gift of God, not from works; cf. Gal 2:16–21; Rom 3:24–28. Christians are a newly created people in Christ, fashioned by God for a life of goodness (Eph 2:10).
* [2:1–7] These verses comprise one long sentence in Greek, the main verb coming in Eph 2:5, God brought us to life, the object you/us dead in…transgressions being repeated in Eph 2:1, 5; cf. Col 2:13.
* [2:2] Age of this world: or “aeon,” a term found in gnostic thought, possibly synonymous with the rulers of this world, but also reflecting the Jewish idea of “two ages,” this present evil age and “the age to come”; cf. 1 Cor 3:19; 5:10; 7:31; Gal 1:4; Ti 2:12. The disobedient: literally, “the sons of disobedience,” a Semitism as at Is 30:9.
* [2:5] Our relation through baptism with Christ, the risen Lord, is depicted in terms of realized eschatology, as already exaltation, though Eph 2:7 brings in the future aspect too. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 100 declares all lands are summoned to Praise God.
* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them.
* [100:3] Although the people call on all the nations of the world to join in their hymn, they are conscious of being the chosen people of God. (Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke shares 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.)
Thomas Quinn comments that when we are so absorbed in an all-encompassing drive for more material wealth that we lose our spiritual perspective. It is then not time to celebrate, it is time to recalibrate.
Find what really is your fair share (objectively, contemplatively, morally, spiritually). There are two ancient and secular phrases that haunt my reflection on this gospel. “You can’t take it with you.” and “Moderation in all things,” to which some add “...even moderation.” Even St. Ignatius initially struggled with the problem of riches and the thirst for more prestige and power. He vacillated between his aristocratic, soldier-self and the depleted, unkempt, starving ascetic-self. When he found his personal set-point and his true goal in life, extremes were no longer the answer. He no longer craved wealth and fame, but rather, he dedicated himself to love, service, and God’s will. As Jesus tells us in today’s gospel, “Don’t store up treasures for yourself...these are treasures that do not matter to God.” Amen! (Quinn, n.d.)
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 Luke 12:13-21 comments that Jesus didn’t tell this parable to scold us. Rather, he wants to show us the breadth and depth of the life he created us for! He wants to tell us that we have a dignity and worth that can never be reduced to a balance sheet. Created in his Father’s image, we have priceless gifts like a fathomless intellect, a vivid imagination, and an inherent ability to recognize—and thirst for—his unfailing love. When we grasp how great these gifts are, we begin to value “the immeasurable riches of his . . . kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). And that kindness can bring us to our knees in awe and gratitude and worship.
Today, ask the Lord to help you see your true worth and the worth of the people around you. Ask him to help you become more “rich in what matters to God” (Luke 12:21).
“Jesus, please show me that you are my greatest treasure!” (Meditation on Luke 12:13-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on being caught up in concupiscence as a theme of the author of Ephesians. The work of grace saving us through faith resonates with Paul except for salvation coming on the last day. Friar Jude is reminded by the Parable of the Rich Man that earthly thinking takes us away from thinking about the Kingdom.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how we can humbly receive and share God’s “good word” for ourselves and the world.
We must receive all words of God tenderly and subtly, so that we can speak them to others with tenderness and subtlety. I would even say that anything said with too much bravado, over-assurance, or with any need to control or impress another, is never the voice of God within us. If any thought feels too harsh, shaming, or diminishing of ourselves or others, it is not likely the voice of God. Trust me on that. That is simply our egoic voice. Why do humans so often presume the exact opposite—that shaming voices are always from God, and grace voices are always the imagination? If something comes toward us with grace and can pass through us and toward others with grace, we can trust it as the voice of God. (Rohr, n.d.)
We ponder the generosity of God and seek the inspiration of the Spirit to assist us in understanding and sharing the treasure, talent and time we have to support fullness of life in our environment.
References
Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2?1
Luke, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?13
Meditation on Luke 12:13-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/10/21/1109845/
Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1
Quinn, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/102124.html
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. A Loving Voice. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-loving-voice/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Storing up True Riches. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=oct21
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