Readings: Eccl. 21:2; 2:21-23; Col
3:1-5, 9-11; Lk 12:13-21
How much is Enough for the Rich?
The
readings of today address the rich and those who pursue wealth as their only
reason to exist on earth. Vanity of vanities, all things are vanity. A vain
person is excessively proud in his/her admiration of his/her own appearance or
achievements. Vanity means the quality of being worthless or futile. The
Preacher, in the first reading, wants us to reflect on futility, uselessness,
pointlessness, and fruitlessness of life and the pursuit of wealth. Our labor
would be fruitless if our only purpose of existence is to amass wealth for
ourselves alone. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and
forfeit his soul?” (Mk. 8:36). No matter how rich we may be and how contented
our achievements may make us feel, a day will come when we leave it all to
others.
The
second reading offers us a solution to a life of vanity. It exhorts us to set
our hearts on the next life where we hope to behold the beatific vision of God.
“If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at
the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you
have died, and your life is hidden with Christ. When Christ your life appears
then you too will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4). We may be whatever we
want and achieve whatever we dream but we must not lose sight of the reason for
our existence. The Penny Catechism reminds us that we were created to know,
love and serve God in this world so as to be happy with him in the next.
Therefore, we must put to death, immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and
greed. We must stop lying and be sincere and honest in our dealings with one
another.
In
the Gospel Jesus addresses inordinate greed and lust after material things that
has blinded many people and turned them into narcissistic, arrogant, selfish,
haughty, conceited, self-important, opinionated, egotistic and superior;
admirable only by themselves and their cronies, despicable and intolerable to
others. They only think of themselves and everything is about them. “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!” And Christ warns: “Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions”. How
much is enough for the rich of this world? Why can’t they read the signs of the
time and learn from the wisdom of Job: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and
naked I shall return there” (Job 1:21). How have you used your wealth to store
up riches for yourselves so that you may be rich in what matters to God? Christ
admonishes: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
decay destroys, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in
heaven where neither moth nor decay destroy, not thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt. 6:19-21). To do
this properly and admirably, you must share what you have with those who have
not. You are only a steward of your wealth. In giving to others, you give to
God and your treasures are stored up for you in heaven.
These
readings affirm that we brought nothing into this world and we will take
nothing out of it. “Those who trust in their wealth and boast of the vastness
of their riches should know that no man buys his own ransom or pays a price to
God for his life. He cannot buy life without end, nor avoid coming to the
grave. He knows that wise men and fools must both perish and must leave their
wealth to others” (Ps. 49).
There
is a story that captures the essence of today’s readings: Alexander the Great
was the emperor of ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He led may military
campaigns and created one of the largest empires ever, stretching from Greek to
India. He did this all while he was about 30 years old. While on his death bed he thought of the vast
empire he has built, each and every spoils of war he captured and the might of
his military machine. He went into depression, realizing nothing was worth it
even after an extremely successful life he could not avoid death. He wanted to
see his mother for the last time before he departed, but he knew he would not
be able to do it and would soon pass away. So he called his loyal Generals and
made three last wishes before dying. I have three last wishes, please carry
them out, for soon I will depart. My first wish is that my doctors, should
alone carry my coffin. My second wish is that the path towards my grave shall
be strewn with gold, silver and all the precious possessions in my treasury,
while my body is being brought to be buried. My third and last wish is that
both my hands shall be kept dangling out of my coffin.
The
Generals who were startled by the three wishes, asked Alexander about the
strange wishes. Alexander told them, I want my doctors to carry my coffin to
let all know that no doctor can cure anybody. They are powerless, cannot save a
person from death. The strewn gold, silver and other precious stones on the way
to the graveyard, to let the people know that though I spent all my life
accumulating riches, not even a grain of gold will come with me when I leave
this world. It is a sheer waste of time, energy, and peace of mind when one
yearns to be rich. Having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I want people to
know that I came empty handed into this world and likewise will go empty handed
from this world.
Alexander
wanted to teach the rest of the world that earthly possessions are not worth
it, and one must not crave for them. We came empty handed and will die empty
handed. What else can I say! In his riches, man lacks wisdom, he is like the
beasts that are destroyed. “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God”. May we be wise with how we
use material things so that God may welcome us into his dwelling when we pass from
this life to next. Amen.
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